Centre Court at the 141st edition of the Canadian Open tournament has its own microclimate; intense, pressurized, and high octane. The players ferocious grace makes them appear to float a fraction above the hard court surface at Toronto’s York University. On the qualifying weekend spectators can attend for free to watch some of the best players in the world compete for the title.

With Serena Williams’ announcement that she will be retiring from tennis after the 2022 US Open; Sobeys stadium was filled to capacity. Serena’s famous forehands exploded off her racquet like popped paper bags and for a few games in each set she reminded us of the Serena Williams of old — the magic of a player who had written herself into tennis’ past, present, and future.