The information published on this website is not intended to provide any health, wellness, or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any kind. You should not take any action before consulting with a licensed healthcare professional.

THE US OPEN is always dreamlike, set against the shimmering backdrop of a late-summer night in New York. It is hard to think of another sporting event so closely associated with the personality of a city: at once urbane and gritty, guided by a distinct appreciation for flash and greatness.

This year also marked the end of an era, as it saw the (likely) retirement of Serena Williams, the sport’s towering figure, and someone I personally delight in calling the greatest athlete of all time, if for no other reason than she participated in a Grand Slam nine months after a C-section — a claim that cannot be made by Michael Jordan, Jim Thorpe, or really anyone else you care to think up.

She has dominated our imaginations for 25 years since she won her first championship here at 19 in a yellow Puma dress and white-beaded braids. The final set of her career — in the third round against the Australian Tomljanović — ended in an epic 22-point game where she fought off 5 match points. It was the most Serena (and the most New York) way to go out. That is what I’ll remember most from this year’s US Open. Here are some other things that will stay with me.

Serena’s greatness (again)

She is the only player I’ve seen who looks down at the court while anticipating the serve. Up and down her eyes go. It gives the impression of a perfect balance between internal and external, as if for her it is only tangentially about the opponent, and in reality, she is simply playing for and against herself. That, of course, is how great people get and stay great.

You can pair the Versace Greca Sunglasses with a Yankees 2K Fitted

If you don’t care enough, that is. This insight courtesy of the young Kyrgios fan fistpumping every point from the Greek. I’m not saying I would personally do it. I’m saying if you have the swagger, it can be done. Good luck.

The future is now

By the time we reached the semifinals, there remained only one woman — Iga Świątek — with a Grand Slam victory to her name. On the men’s side: none. Federer is gone, Serena retired, Djokovic’s at home. Nineteen-year-old Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannick Sinner in one of the greatest matches the tournament has ever seen, and Francis Tiafoe of College Park, Maryland, straight up swindled the primetime crowd from Nadal. The sport is now younger, wilder, more unpredictable. Regime change is upon us. And it couldn’t be more beautiful.

Header image: Photography by Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images.