Inside the Mind of the GOAT Is Serena Williams Retiring?
When rapper Megan Thee Stallion won three Grammy awards this spring, fans all over the
world celebrated — including the 23-time Grand Slam-winning tennis player Serena Williams. Williams filmed a video of herself and her 3-year-old daughter, Alexis, jamming out to Stallion’s hit song “Body” and posted it to TikTok. Dancing in a poofy, champagne-colored dress, the 39-year-old tennis player looked young and vibrant. But if you follow the sport, you’ve probably heard the rumors that Williams is getting ready to retire. It’s rare for a tennis player to remain at the top of their game at 39, and on Feb. 17, Williams lost in the 2021 Australian Open Semifinals to Naomi Osaka. The loss hit her hard. As Insider reported, “Following the defeat, Williams placed her hand on her heart and saluted the crowd before breaking down in tears in her post-match press conference and saying: ‘If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone.’” That certainly sounds like a hint at retirement. Williams is already considered a GOAT (greatest of all time) in women’s professional tennis, but if she retires now, she’ll be one Grand Slam victory short of tying Margaret Court, the most decorated female tennis player in modern history. It would be tough for someone as competitive as Williams to get so close and fall short — and her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, doesn’t think she’ll throw in the towel. “I don’t think she will stop until she at least wins a Grand Slam, because she came back to win Grand Slams [after her daughter was born],” he told People magazine.
While our society would ideally uphold the dignity of our most elderly members in the waning years of their lives, the opposite is many times true. When we don’t care for the elderly in our community, those actions can have dire consequences for their health and well-being. Few instances make that more clear than when a nursing home resident suffers from a fall. Falls in nursing homes account for over a third (36%) of all potentially preventable emergency room visits by nursing home residents. About 1,800 residents of nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries. Each year, the average nursing home with 100 beds reports 100–200 falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many times, the cause of falls in nursing homes is neglect. While nursing homes will frequently deny neglect had anything to do with an elderly resident’s fall, you can look for a few factors that might be evidence to the contrary: How Neglect Can Lead to Nursing Home Falls WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ELDERLY LOVED ONE FALLS
German tennis star Tommy Haas echoed Mouratoglou in an interview with Insider, saying, “I know deep down, as the competitor she is, she wants to break the record. I think ultimately that’s why she’s still playing, because she wants that number and she’s going after it.”
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A lack of handrails in hallways or stairwells Other patients experiencing similar injuries
• An absence of records or explanation for the injury from the nursing home • A vague explanation of the injury from the nursing home.
If you suspect neglect may have been a factor in your loved one’s fall, make the following steps your due diligence in seeking justice for them:
During a discussion at the Silk Speaker Series at the University of San Francisco, Williams reportedly said her love of the game keeps her going. “I love what I do and that motivates me,” she said. As long as that love remains, odds are she’ll stay on the court. If you’re struggling to play a sport you enjoy and worry you might be getting too old for it, try channeling Williams. Remind yourself why you love the game, and you’ll find the strength to power through.
• Notify the nursing home of your loved one’s injuries immediately • Seek medical attention for your loved one • Contact an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney You and your loved ones could be effectively punished with bills when you did nothing wrong. At Shuttlesworth Law Firm, we will tirelessly investigate the circumstances of any nursing home resident’s fall. Call (205) 322-1411 for a free case evaluation today! We’ll fight for their rights to be respected and for your family to receive the compensation they deserve.
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