Serena Williams has proven that she is undeniably the G.O.A.T.

Serena Williams showed why she’s the GOAT with her toughness at Wimbledon, and she has nothing left to prove for her legendary career.

Coming into Wimbledon 2021, Serena Williams had her best chance to win a record-tying 24th major singles championship in quite some time. Naomi Osaka withdrew from the tournament for mental health reasons, and World No. 1 Ashy Barty, along with other potential threats, have been dealing with various injuries. So there was no better time for the 39-year-old star to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors.

Sadly, Williams slipped during the first set of her first set against Aliaksandra Sasnovich and aggravated her hamstring. She tried to play through the strain, but the pain was too much to overcome. Arm over her face, visibly emotional, and with a standing ovation from the crowd, the 23-time singles champion withdrew from Wimbledon after six games.

After the match, Williams explained she was “heartbroken” to withdraw from the grass tournament, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Despite her unceremonious end at Wimbledon, it shouldn’t taint her legacy as one of the game’s best. Even if she never picks up a racket again, Williams will be remembered as one of the best players in any sport.

Serena Williams has proven she’s the GOAT, and that’s no debate.

There should be no resistance to the statement that Serena Williams is one of the greatest tennis players (if not overall athlete) of all time. What she has been able to do throughout her career has been incredible. The aforementioned 23 singles championships, 319 weeks as WTA’s No. 1 player, multiple Olympic Gold Medals, and plenty of records and accolades to boot. You rarely see an athlete have a stranglehold on their sport like Williams has, and for such a long time as well.

It hasn’t been easy for the 39-year-old either. She’s faced many hardships throughout her illustrious career, from family deaths, injuries, and personal issues. Yet, despite the adversity, Williams continued to excel in the tennis world. Her toughness at Wimbledon, trying to fight through an injury to play, is just another example of how the tennis legend’s fire and desire for the game are unlike anyone else’s.

There’s nothing else Williams has to prove in her career. Her lasting dominance, grace on the court, and passion for winning have her in the same conversations as Brady, Jordan, Manning, Jeter, LeBron, and other sports GOATs. Tying Court’s record would be icing on the cake, and passing her would be the cherry on top of a remarkable career.

Even if she doesn’t win another major, her legacy is already cemented as one of sports greatest athletes. If anything, breaking the singles championship record should be seen as more of a personal mission for Williams, not a career requirement. Her status as a legend in tennis or the game’s most dominant player shouldn’t be questioned if she doesn’t add to her majors count.

Since she was a child, Serena Williams has been in the eyes of the tennis world. She’s grown from an aspiring star to a living legend. She owes us nothing, has nothing left to prove, and has achieved success at the highest level of competition. No matter what the future holds for her career, she’s undeniably the GOAT.