Serena Williams is making her last appearance at a Grand Slam before retiring from tennis as one of the best players to have ever graced the court.
A 23-time major singles champion, Williams remains in pursuit of Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 slams, and will hope to go out on bang at the US Open.
When Williams appeared at warm-up tournament prior to Wimbledon earlier this year, fans spotted that the superstar was wearing black tape on her face.The Sporting Newsexplains why.
MORE: Why is Serena Williams retiring?
Why does Serena Williams wear black tape on her face?
The small sections of plaster on Williams' cheek are medical tape designed to help relieve the 40-year-old's sinus problems, according toThe Times.
Williams wore the tape to help her performances when she reached the doubles semifinals at Eastbourne.
The hugely popular former world number one played alongside current world number two Ons Jabeur at the tournament.
The pair were unable to compete in the final four because Jabeur had a knee injury but Williams had proved a huge hit in her first matches since tearing her hamstring at Wimbledon 2021.
What has Serena Williams said about wearing black tape on her face?
Williams spoke with characteristic openness about the issue in an interview ahead of the busy summer Grand Slam schedule in 2007.
"My secret's out," she told Reuters. "I'm a sinus sufferer. Playing tennis or pretty much doing anything every day is not easy when you have sinuses.
"You feel a lot of pressure, congestion and pain and training for grand slams such as... Wimbledon and the French Open, it's not easy."
Her tips for helping with the problem included hot showers as part of measures to keep the chest and passageways around the body clear.
She added that she uses a natural saline spray several times daily in order to keep her sinuses moist.
According to the CDC, almost 12 per cent of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with sinusitis — a total of almost 29 million people.
What time is Serena Williams' next match at US Open 2022?
Williams will play her first US Open match on Monday, Aug. 29, at approximately 7 p.m. ET againstDanka Kovinic.
Kovinic, a 27-year-old from Montenegro, is the 80th-ranked player in the world. She peaked as the 46th-ranked player in 2016. She has played in the US Open four times and participated in qualifying five times. She has never advanced past the tournament's second round.
Kovinic and Williams have never faced off in a singles match.
Serena will also link up with her sister Venus when the two make their first doubles appearance together since the 2018 French Open, they will face Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova. The Williams sisters beat Hradecka and Andrea Hlavackova for the 2012 Wimbledon doubles title.
Where does @SerenaWilliams’ legacy start? At love.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) August 29, 2022
Serena started a movement - to realize that you can do anything
When you love what makes you you.
This is a film for Serena, with ❤️. pic.twitter.com/9IeTfMO5fi
How many times has Serena Williams won the US Open?
Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam titles during her career, and six of those have come at the US Open. That is tied for the most, man or woman, in the history of the major withChris Evert.
Williams is one major title shy of tying Margaret Court for the most major wins by a tennis player. Court was dominant at the Australian Open, winning 11 of her 24 titles there, but the US Open was her second-best event. She won it five times.
As an avid tennis enthusiast with a deep understanding of the sport and its players, particularly Serena Williams, I can confidently shed light on the intriguing details mentioned in the article about Serena Williams wearing black tape on her face. Serena Williams, a 23-time major singles champion, is undeniably one of the greatest players in the history of tennis.
The article explains that the black tape on Williams' face is actually medical tape designed to alleviate her sinus problems. This information was reported by The Sporting News and further validated by The Times. The revelation about the purpose of the tape came to light when Williams wore it during a warm-up tournament before Wimbledon, where she reached the doubles semifinals at Eastbourne alongside Ons Jabeur, the current world number two.
Williams, in her characteristic openness, spoke about her sinus issues in a 2007 interview with Reuters, stating, "My secret's out. I'm a sinus sufferer." She elaborated on the challenges she faces due to sinus pressure, congestion, and pain, particularly when training for major tournaments like Wimbledon and the French Open. Williams shared some of her strategies to cope with sinus problems, including hot showers to clear chest and passageways and the use of a natural saline spray multiple times a day to keep her sinuses moist.
The article also provides valuable information about Serena Williams' upcoming matches at the US Open in 2022. Her first match is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29, against Danka Kovinic, a 27-year-old player from Montenegro. Additionally, it mentions Serena's participation in doubles alongside her sister Venus Williams, marking their first doubles appearance together since the 2018 French Open.
Furthermore, the piece touches upon Serena Williams' illustrious career, emphasizing her six US Open titles among her 23 Grand Slam victories. This achievement ties her with Chris Evert for the most titles at the US Open by any player, male or female. Williams is one major title away from equaling Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam victories.
In conclusion, Serena Williams' use of black tape for sinus relief, her insights into managing sinus issues, details about her upcoming matches at the US Open, and her remarkable career achievements are all expertly presented in the provided information.
