Serena’s retirement after U.S. Open heralds sunset of tennis’ golden era

Like Serena Williams, the triumvirate of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have dominated tennis for the last two decades, and are on their last legs

The likely end of Serena Williams' tennis career has left the game staring at the beginning of the end of the sport's golden era, a dreaded prospect that has long been on the horizon.

The American, who will turn 41 this month, bid an emotional goodbye to the U. S. Open with a third-round loss to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday, in what may have been the last singles match of her glittering career.

Although Williams left the door slightly open on an unlikely comeback, her apparent departure — not unexpected, given Williams' struggles with form and injury in the past 12 months — would have sent shivers down the spines of tennis administrators and organisers.

"She's box office," former British number one Greg Rusedski summed it up on Sky Sports after Williams informed the world of her decision last month in a Vogue article.

"She's carried women's tennis for the last two decades with her sister Venus as well. You've obviously had other great players around them, but she brings your non-tennis fan to the sport.

"If you know absolutely nothing about tennis, you know the name Serena Williams. She's iconic and we're losing an icon of our sport and she will be truly, truly missed."

But it will not just be a loss for women's tennis. Williams could be the first in a series of ageing greats to call time on their playing careers in the near future.