NEW YORK : Serena Williams lost to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic at the U.S. Open on Friday night, likely marking the end of arguably the sport's greatest Grand Slam career, but her title as the biggest earner in women's tennis history will remain for years to come.
"It's very unusual in sports to see a female athlete have this sort of financial presence," Matheson said. There is no doubt that Williams, who along with Venus was introduced to the predominately white sport at an early age by their father in Compton, California, helped bring in a new audience."Then she came along and it became accepted in public parks and people who never thought about playing tennis before started playing. And a lot more African American players came along."