What Serena Williams said about influencing Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek during her final Canadian Open appearance in 2022

Serena Williams’ final appearance at the Canadian Open in 2022 was more than just another tournament—it was a heartfelt moment in tennis history. After bowing out in the second round of what would become her last Canadian Open, she paused to reflect on the legacy she hoped to leave, especially regarding the bright young stars she inspired.

“It’s great to have an impact,” she said, with that signature Serena glow, acknowledging the ripple effect she’d seen her career create—particularly through players like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. That simple statement carried so much warmth and humility, revealing how deeply she cares about the future of the game.

Think about the emotions behind that sentiment. Serena, a dominant force of her era, stepping off the court and seeing two players—Gauff, an American prodigy, and Swiatek, the gracefully fierce Pole—carrying forward her spirit, confidence, and power. She wasn’t just content with winning; she wanted to pave the way, to light up the path for those who’d follow.

It’s fitting, then, that both Gauff and Swiatek, in their own ways, have underscored how much she meant to them. Gauff often cites Serena as her idol, crediting her for introducing a new generation—especially young women of color—to tennis. And Swiatek, in interviews around that time, named Serena as a player she admired deeply—not just for her prowess on court, but for her longevity, for balancing motherhood and business with elite sport.

In that moment in Toronto, Serena wasn’t reflecting on how many Grand Slams she’d won—she was looking out and recognizing something bigger: the love, pride, and admiration she stirred simply by being herself. That hangover of her greatness lives on in the next wave of champions, who carry her energy with grace, tenacity, and style.

So rather than framing her final Canadian match as an ending, it felt like a passing of the torch—one infused with gratitude and hope. And that’s exactly how fans remember it: not as a farewell, but as an unspoken promise that Serena’s spirit would continue—through her fans, her legacy, and especially through trailblazers like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.