Serena Williams heads to the U.S. Open Final to face a 20-year-old fan

She's back on top and just a step from taking the crown at the U.S. Open. Can you say GOAT?

Sep 7, 2018

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In case you hadn’t noticed, Serena Williams is arguably the baddest athlete to ever walk this Earth.

For the uninitiated, Williams, 36, had a baby by caesarean section just last year, suffered through several related medical issues, and still won her semifinal matchup yesterday against Anastasija Sevastova, a 28-year-old from Latvia. She is now headed to the U.S. Open for the 9^th time.

After the amazing achievement, Williams took it all in and nearly lost it. During an interview following her 6-3, 6-0 victory, the tennis phenom fought back tears, according to The New York Times. “I got a little emotional out there because last year I was literally fighting for my life in the hospital,” she told the Times. “I think I was on my fourth surgery by now. What is today? I was on my third surgery. I had one more to go still.”

“To come from that, in the hospital bed, not being able to move and walk and do anything. Now only a year later, I’m not training, but I’m actually in these finals, in two in a row,” Williams continued, referring also to her advance to the Wimbledon final. “Like I said, this is the beginning. I’m not there yet. I’m on the climb still.”

“Honestly,” she said, “it is remarkable. I couldn’t have predicted this at all.”

Last year during the U.S. Open, Williams gave birth to a daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian. The delivery was fraught with life-threatening complications and Williams had to undergo multiple operations.

This is but a distant memory to her latest achievements on the court.

On Saturday, Williams will play Naomi Osaka, the 20^th-seed and a rising star from Japan. Osaka has dreamed of playing Williams, the 17^th-seed, in the finals since she was a little girl.

When asked if she had anything to say to Williams, Osaka gushed: “I love you” before bursting into nervous laughter, the Times reported.

Osaka then collected herself and her fandom and let a reporter know that she does love Williams but that in her dreams, she wins.

“I don’t dream to lose,” she replied.