Ion Tiriac: ‘If Serena Williams had a little decency, she would retire’

The Madrid Mutua Open tournament director Ion Tiriac is not a fan of Serena Williams. The Romanian proved that again a couple of days ago in an interview to the Romanian site, mentioning Serena’s age and weight and calling her to retire as soon as possible!

Serena finished the previous season just outside the top-10, missing the year-end elite group for the third time in the past four years. Williams did enough to wrap up 2019 in the top-10 despite a light schedule, missing the honor in the season behind us despite giving her best at every tournament.

Serena failed to win a Major title for three consecutive seasons for the first time in a career, waiting for that elusive 24th Major crown since the Australian Open 2017! Giving birth to a child later that year, Williams kept her focus on four notable tournaments in the previous three seasons, reaching back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and 2019 for a strong comeback.

It wasn’t to be for the American, though, suffering four painful losses and hoping to make that extra step in 2020. Serena suffered an early loss in Melbourne last January, preparing for Roland Garros and Wimbledon when the coronavirus halted the action between March and August.

Wimbledon had to close the gates for the first time since 1945, and Serena turned the focus on the home Major, seeking the seventh New York title and the first since 2014. Without the partisan crowd to support her, the veteran reached the semis for the 11th straight time, made a strong start against Victoria Azarenka and lost ground to propel the Belarusian into the title clash.

Ion Tiriac spoke about Serena Williams in the negative context again.
Ready to give it a shot in her beloved Paris, Serena went to Europe and trained at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, seeking the first Roland Garros title in five years.

The American won the first-round match before withdrawing with an Achilles injury ahead of the Tsvetlana Pironkova clash, missing another chance in the quest for the 24th Major title. The next opportunity should come in Melbourne in February, and Serena is back on the practice court ahead of the Aussie trip.

It is safe to say we will not see Serena at the Madrid Open in 2021, and she also stated that she and Tiriac would have a word in the future, no matter when. “At this age and the weight she is now, she does not move as easily as he did 15 years ago.

Serena was a sensational player. If she had a little decency, she would retire! From all points of view,” Ion Tiriac said.