Tiger Woods moment lights up US Open during Serena Williams clash
The sport world has erupted after witnessing golf legend Tiger Woods deliver his trademark fist-pump to cheer on Serena Williams in what could be her final US Open singles match.
Williams' announcement that the US Open would be her farewell grand slam has brought out all the stars in New York.
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And in a crucial clash against Anett Kontaveit in the second round the raucous home crowd were willing Williams to victory.
Williams was keeping the points short against Kontaveit with her trademark groundstrokes and the pair ended up in a tense first set tiebreak.
However, Williams held her nerve to send the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium ballistic.
And the broadcast spotted 15-time major winner Woods leaping out of his seat in support of the 23-time grand slam champ as she took the first set tiebreak.
Fans swiftly reacted to the iconic moment of one sport legend acknowledging another.
First set to Serena calls for a 🐅 classic. pic.twitter.com/KO52xOKU5B
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2022
.@TigerWoods is HYPED for #SerenaWilliams. #USOpen
(via @usopen)pic.twitter.com/eLJBCQprDb— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 1, 2022
And we get the Tiger fist pump!!! 🐅
Awesome 🎾⛳️#USOpen #SerenaWilliams #TigerWoods pic.twitter.com/3CLYtD9JJP— Kevin Smith (@Global_Smith) September 1, 2022
Seeing Tiger Woods cheering Serena on. #MomentoftheDay
— Kelly Carlin (@kelly_carlin) September 1, 2022
So awesome seeing the stars in New York to see Serena. Especially other greats like @TigerWoods #Serena @NextRoundLive
— Jim Dunaway (@jimdunaway) September 1, 2022
Was Tiger Woods tearing up after that Serena Williams ace to win set 1? 🐐
— Alyssa Charlston (@Alyssacharlston) September 1, 2022
Tiger Woods is all of us #USOpen2022 pic.twitter.com/hGx1YpSRCQ
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) September 1, 2022
If Tiger Woods ever gave me this level of a fist pump while I was competing I would simply evaporate https://t.co/G4nUqNZQ50
— Luke Domask (@Ljd_80) September 1, 2022
The crowd was littered with celebrities, which included her sister Venus Williams, tennis icon Billie Jean King, film director Spike Lee, movie stars Zendaya and Jared Leto.
Williams wasn't able to repeat the feat in the second set as Kontaveit raced away 6-2 to level the match.
Serena Williams' surprising post-match claim
Despite admitting that the US Open was set to be her final tournament of her illustrious career, Williams appeared to leave the door open for a return.
The 23-time grand slam champion was clearly taken aback by the enormity of the support on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the first round.
And 40-year-old left the door ajar for a potential return down the line after an emotional post-match celebration.
“Yeah, I've been pretty vague about it [retirement], right?” Williams said in her post-match interview.
“I'm going to stay vague because you never know."
Williams is also set to play doubles with her sister Venus at the US Open.
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