Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has won the internet after stealing some of the spotlight away from his wife’s emotional farewell at the US Open.
Williams’ dreams of a fairytale finish to her glittering career were ended by Ajla Tomljanovic as the Aussie claimed a thrilling three-set win over the 23-time grand slam champion.
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The 40-year-old Williams – who last month revealed she was “evolving” away from tennis – went down 7-5 6-7 (4/7) 6-1 in a gruelling 3-hour and 5-minute battle.
The retiring great’s farewell match was played amid a cacophony of noise inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium centre court at Flushing Meadows on Friday night (Saturday AEST).
Before the match, Tomljanovic had to sit through the same brutal routine as Williams’ previous two opponents as montages of some of the American’s greatest moments were flashed on the big screens inside the stadium.
The pre-match presentations have been branded “very disrespectful” by viewers such as the The Times’ Stu Fraser, with many justifiably feeling sorry for Williams’ opponents.
However, one man who was happy to go along with the ride was Williams’ husband Ohanian, who stole the show with an incredible display of support during his wife’s final match.
The Reddit co-founder, wearing a t-shirt featuring the couple’s daughter Olympia on the front, was rallying the American legend throughout the epic three-set contest.
On numerous occasions, Ohanian jumped out of his seat, throwing his arms in the air and roaring in delight when Williams won big points.
Ohanian’s unwavering support sent the internet into a frenzy, with viewers particularly enamoured by the Olympia detail on his t-shirt.