NAC’s Allie Schneider at the U.S. Open For Serena’s last match

Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in her final match. Photo: Allie Scheider (Facebook)

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY — When Allie Schneider isn’t para bobsledding, or playing wheelchair tennis, she’s spectating tennis and Friday night she was perfectly positioned to do just that seeing Serena Williams’ likely final match at the U.S. Open.

Williams announced earlier this year that at the age of 40, and the mother of her four year old daughter, Olympia, she would “evolve” away from tennis after this year’s Open Tournament. Williams ended up losing to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia after a third-round match lasting three sets and more than three hours.

Williams’ storied career inspired global audiences by winning Olympic medals, doubles trophies with her sister Venus, and  enough single titles to last a lifetime.

Schneider with a little, but not much, assistance from her father Kurt, longtime owner and operator of Nate Wade Subaru, was one of the very first pilots of a bobsled that went down the track at the Utah Olympic Park when a partnership was formed over a decade ago with the National Ability Center (NAC).

She trained with the NAC bobsled team for multiple seasons inspiring countless young athletes. Before, during, and after those high-speed track times, her passion for tennis was omnipresent. Last night wasn’t Allie’s first trip to the U.S. Open but it just might be her most memorable stating in a facebook post, “Such a fun way to start a fun tennis weekend. Thanks for the memories Serena.”