(AP) NEW YORK — Imagine if a substance called "Just Serena" could be put into a bottle.That was Serena Williams' brief, beaming justification for how she had been able to defeat the second-ranked woman in the world and move on to the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday despite being nearly 41 and match-rusty. To cheering supporters, she merely said, "I'm Serena."
Obviously, Serena is a singular person. Although many people regarded Williams' achievement to be superhuman, several older admirers, particularly those in their middle years or older, claimed to have found a very relatable lesson in her most recent performance. Specifically, the notion that with fitness, practice, and tenacity, they, too, might perform better and longer than they had believed possible.Bess Brodsky Goldstein, 63, a lifelong tennis fan who was at the Open on Thursday, the day after Williams' victory over 26-year-old Anett Kontaveit, said, "It makes me feel good about what I'm still doing at my age."Compared to most women her age, Goldstein is more committed to her love of the sport. She participates in a New England-based USTA mixed-doubles league for players 55 and over many times per week. (She competes in golf, too.)
In spite of this, Goldstein experiences her fair share of aches and pains, including a recent knee problem that caused her to miss a few weeks of competition. She claimed that Williams demonstrates to regular people how they can overcome challenges such as accidents or, in Williams' case, a life-threatening birthing event five years ago. Serena Williams, Serena's older sister, competes this year at the age of 42, and according to Goldstein, "she gives you inspiration that you can achieve your best, even in your early 60s."On Thursday, Evelyn David was also watching tennis at the Open and she, too, was reflecting on the previous evening.
David, who cited her age as "older than my 60s," added with a smile, "Everyone is going, 'WHOA!'" "and oversees the New York Junior Tennis Learning website, which serves kids and teenagers. She spoke to Williams' physical play and the importance of fitness in modern tennis. "The arduous training regimen that athletes undergo today is different, "added David. "I'm not falling over, she says. I'll be able to get the ball.
Williams' performance was dubbed "a total inspiration" by David, and she was accompanied by some illustrious company.
Chris Evert, a former champion and ESPN analyst, asked during Wednesday's broadcast, "Can I put anything in perspective here?" "This mother is 40 years old. It amazes me beyond belief."
Before fitness and nutrition became as important to tennis as they are now, Evert retired in 1989 at the age of 34. When pioneering athlete Billie Jean King, now 78, was at her peak, they were even less so.In an interview with a newspaper on Thursday, King said of Williams, "For us older ones, it gives us hope and it's entertaining." "brings a spring to your step. you with energy She remarked on the evolution of tour fitness since the 1960s and 1970s.
Both the knowledge and the funds were lacking, according to King. "People now thank their team when they win a tournament. To have all of those folks is such a blessing. Even worse, we lacked a coach.
The winner on Thursday, No. 8 seed Jessica Pegula, is 50 years younger than King at age 28. She is well aware of the impact fitness has had.
It has had a significant role in it, she said. The way athletes care for their bodies, sports nutrition, and the science underlying both training and nutrition have all evolved significantly. In the past, you could have seen a player sipping on a Coke on the sidelines or having a beer after a game. Now, whether it be physical or mental, health has taken precedence. She recalled believing that Williams, Nadal, and Federer would all retire, but "they kept pushing the boundaries."
Due to surgery on his right knee, Federer, 41, hasn't played since Wimbledon last year, but he's promised to try to play Wimbledon the following year, just before he turns 42. And 36-year-old Nadal, who is well-known for his extreme commitment to fitness, has added two Grand Slam victories this year, bringing his total to a men's record 22. It wouldn't be shocking if he took home another major. On the other hand, Jimmy Connors' legendary run to the 1991 U.S. Open semifinals at the age of 39 was seen as a moment that belonged in history.
Martina Navratilova, who won her final Grand Slam victory, the 2006 U.S. Open mixed doubles, at age 49, was a lifelong fitness pioneer in the women's game.
Of course, physical fitness is just one component of success in any activity. Although it is encouraging to see Williams maintain a physical advantage in part through practice, Denver Broncos defender Justin Simmons, who is 28 years old like Pegula, cautioned that "not everyone is Serena and Venus Williams. It's wonderful to know that, even if she is genetically gifted, there are some things that she's done that have greatly aided in extending her career, even if there are some genes in there that not everyone else is fortunate enough to have.
Williams resembles other elite athletes, like as quarterback Tom Brady (45 and infamously still active), who have had successful extended careers, according to Mayo Clinic researcher Dr. Michael J. Joyner.
What you notice about all of these folks, he continued, "is that they maintain their motivation, that they've escaped catastrophic harm, or that they've been able to return because they've recovered." The fact that they reside in "modern sports medicine's period.
He questioned whether Williams could compete at the same level every other day to win the entire tournament. So, he hopes.
Jamie Martin, a physical therapist and a fan of Williams who runs a network of clinics in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, said she sees a lot of women continuing to play intense, competitive sports well into their middle years and beyond. After years of concentrating on job or family, some people pick up a new sport or return to their old one.
Williams' quest for a second U.S. Open championship at the age of 40 serves as a reminder that women may play not only for longer but also just for fun.
Martin, 59, said, "She's really enjoying playing." "That's what makes it entertaining to watch now,"
Both Williams sisters are excellent examples of people living life on their own terms, according to Brooklyn instructor Mwezi Pugh, even choosing how long they want to play.
Pugh, 51, claimed that "they are still using their own playbook." "Serena, are you ready to retire yet? "That word bothers me. I'd rather use the word evolution. "Venus, are you ready to retire?" "Not right now."
As you get older, you should have greater freedom to arrange your life the way you choose and in a way that works best for you, according to Pugh. The sisters are instructing us all by doing that, according to the statement.
[zombify_post]
0 Comments