National Bank Open triple champion Serena Williams said 'Goodbye Toronto' to a packed crowd the day after announcing her impending retirement.
The American lost 6-2, 6-4 toBelinda Bencic in the second round inToronto. It was her first loss since she said she decided to end her career.
"Obviously there was a lot of emotion," Williams told the audience Wednesday.
``I love playing here.
"Like I said in the article, I'm not good at breaking up. But goodbye Toronto." and evolving towards other things that are important to me," she wrote in Vogue.
"That's exactly what it is, anyway," she told the Toronto audience, wiping away tears.
"I'm really happy to be here today and play in front of you all. Thank you for your support," she gestured to the fans behind her.
"Thank you," she said with a grin. The presentation ended with gifts from the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL and Toronto her Raptors NBA franchise.
Williams has committed to playing the Western and Southern Open next week in Cincinnati and the US Open later this month, making it her final tournament. It seems to be
