New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley at practice Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Giants RB Saquon Barkley can't keep still during Serena Williams' U.S. Open loss

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 9/3/22

With the start of the NFL season nearly a week away, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley's focus is on quieting his critiques with a bounce-back campaign in 2022.

However, on Friday, Barkley took a break from football to take in some U.S. Open action at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Barkley and a raucous crowd witness the final match of Serena Williams' storied career. Williams' remarkable run in the U.S. Open ended in the third round as she fell to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic defeated Williams (7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1).

The emotion in the air Friday night was thick enough to cut as fans in attendance witnessed a historic moment in sports. And judging by his reaction during the match, the moment was not lost on Barkley.

In the heat of Williams and Tomljanovic's battle, Barkley volleyed back and forth in his seat, mimicking the action on the court.

.@Saquon Barkley is all of us rn pic.twitter.com/3OR4HZJlzc
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022

Williams ends her 25-year career with 23 grand slams, more than any other player, male or female.

The 40-year-old has said for months that she'd walk away from tennis after the U.S. Open. However, Williams said, "I don't think so, but you never know," when asked if she'd reconsider her retirement after Friday's three-hour epic.

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