Serena Williams brought out the stars.
The 40-year-old had quite the cheering section for the start of her final go-round at Flushing Meadows, a Monday night matchup against Danka Kovinic.
“The crowd was crazy,” Serena told CBS’ Gayle King post-match. “Really helped pull me through.”
Chief among her well-wishers was Serena’s four-year-old daughter Olympia, who was a staple of ESPN’s coverage, shouting for mom, eating a lollipop, and playing around with Reddit founder and dad Alexis Ohanian in the player’s box.
Serena Williams’s daughter Olympia and husband Alexis Ohanian take pictures and cheer. Corbis via Getty Images
Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia cheer from the stands. Dylan Travis/AbacaPress/SplashNews.com
Vogue Magazine Anna Wintour focuses in on the match between Williams and Kovinic. Getty Images/Elsa
Vera Wang enjoys the Williams-Kovinic match. Elsa/Getty Images
Bella Hadid cheers during Serena Williams’ match against Danka Kovinic. Dylan Travis/AbacaPress/SplashNews.comOlympia wore a sequined outfit similar to Serena’s, her hair festooned with white beads in an apparent homage to her mom’s hairstyle from her first US Open title in 1999.
Also seated in Serena’s box was Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue magazine, which served as the outlet for the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s retirement announcement.
Mayor Eric Adams took in the spectacle, as well.
Spike Lee found his way on the 2022 US Open court for the coin toss.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams (top) and New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor (R) attend the US Open women’s singles first round match. Corey Sipkin/AFP via Getty Images
Model Ashley Graham attends the Williams-Kovinic match. Jean Catuffe/GC Images
Huma Abedin looks on during the Women’s Singles First Round match between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinic. Gotham/GC Images
Actor Rebel Wilson shares a kiss with her girlfriend Ramona Agruma in the stands. Robert Sabo“She inspired so many young people to see that there’s no limitation,” Adams said before the match. “She has done so much to this generation of introducing tennis into their lives.”
Elsewhere in the crowd, boxer Mike Tyson sat next to tennis legend Martina Navratilova and petted her dog, Lulu.
Director Spike Lee took part in an on-court coin toss before the matchup. Queen Latifah, who narrated a highlight video of Serena, took in the action from the stands as well.
Actor Hugh Jackman and Anthony Anderson sit in the stands as Serena Williams celebrates her win. NY POST
Actor Deborra-Lee Furness, Actor Hugh Jackman and American alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn sat next to each other to watch the match. Elsa/Getty Images
Actor Anthony Anderson looks on prior to the match between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinic. Elsa/Getty Images
Mike Tyson applauds during the Women’s Singles First Round match Al Bello/Getty ImagesActress Rebel Wilson and actors Anthony Anderson and Hugh Jackman were in the crowd, as were Katie Couric, Matt Damon, Gayle King and Lindsey Vonn.
Perhaps the oddest sighting at Arthur Ashe Stadium was the pairing of President Bill Clinton and 94-year-old sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. The two were shown engaging in conversation, including a playful slap from Westheimer to Clinton’s face.
