For every forehand smash that sailed by a lesser opponent, for every spinning lob that barely cleared the net and for every intimidating scream that echoed above a tennis court, there was a young girl — or boy — who was inspired by Serena.

That’s Serena, as in Serena Williams, as if a last name were even necessary for a tennis legend long considered the greatest of all time.

With her whimsical final run at the U.S. Open in Queens at it’s rockstar end, her biggest fans were along for the ride soaking in every inspirational moment.

“Serena’s my idol. I’ve looked up to her ever since I picked up a racket,” said Summer Chandler, a teen tennis phenom who trains at the John McEnroe Academy on Randall’s Island and is entering her junior year at Laurel Springs School.

Summer Chandler with her idol, Serena Williams in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Chandler family)

“The first time I saw her play was on TV and I vividly remember it because I remember looking at her and thinking I want to be her when I get older,” said Summer, who was 5 years old at the time, and had already been playing tennis for two years.

“I saw her play [at the US Open] on Monday and when I saw her walk out I actually got chills. I was really on the verge of tears. I got emotional and I cried a little because I couldn’t believe the person that pushed me to play through my ups and downs, her career is ending.”

Summer, who lives in Jamaica, Queens, was in nearby Flushing last week to cheer on her idol as she makes her exit from the tennis stage. Summer has actually met the tennis star a couple of times before, and she still has the goose bumps to prove it.

“I was around 7, and I got my ball signed by her,” Summer said. “I was watching her practice and my dad lifted me out of the crowd so she could see me.”

Three years later at an event in New York, she was overjoyed when Williams complimented her “S” necklace.

“It was magical to be able to speak to her, and she treated me like a normal girl and was just a normal person,” Summer said. “I was ecstatic, I couldn’t even believe what was going on.”

Serena Williams signs autographs at the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens on Sept. 5, 2016. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images for USTA)

As for the necklace, Summer said she put it away for safekeeping,

“I’ve kept it in the box ever since..” she said.

Summer said she has learned an incredible amount from watching videos of Williams, paying especially close attention to the superstar’s backhand stance and her rocket launcher serve.

“Her serve is the best in the game, hands down,” Summer said, sounding like a TV analyst doing a play-by-play. “She can end a game with a serve. My friends know that my serve is pretty deadly as well and I owe it to her.”

The teen came in second in the doubles tournament at the Billie Jean King Girls’ National Championship in San Diego earlier this month.

Summer was hardly alone in her love for the tennis great.

Serena Williams poses with fans after practicing during day two of the 2019 Hopman Cup at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia on Dec. 30, 2018. (Paul R. Kane/Getty Images)

Tennis fan Glen Fernandez, 52, brought his 11-year-old daughter to the US Open on Friday to get a glimpse of history.

“It’s an inspiration to see her accomplish almost any goal based on what she did,” Fernandez said. “It’s dramatic. Especially now that you look back, her record and achievements are more powerful.”

Sienna Cheung, 10, came to the Open from Westchester with her dad. She wants Williams to stay around a little longer.

“I’m pretty sad to see her go,” Sienna said.

“She was an inspiration to a lot of younger girls and to the sport, not only for women but for people of color,” said Andy Cheung, 50. “My older daughter plays tennis in college. She made a mark on history with the sport, to have an African-American female be a role model for thousands of young girls.”

“We are all excited,” said Hitesh Mittal, 46, of Greenwich. “I think from the background she came from she’s an inspiration for every kid. Everything is possible, and she’s done it her way throughout and throughout,.

A tennis fan takes her picture in front of a likeness of Serena Williams during the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens on Aug. 28, 2022. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Young people aren’t the only ones inspired.

“She means everything to young women, for Black and brown people,” said Martha Arbouex, 77, who flew from San Francisco for Serena’s swan song. “That’s who we have to look up to in a sport other than basketball and football. Her image and the way she looked is inspiring.”

Williams, 40, and her sister, Venus, famously learned the game on concrete playground courts in Compton, Calif., where they grew up.

If Summer has it her way, she’ll be going to college in Williams’ old stomping grounds.

“I already have my dream school — UCLA,” she said. “I hope she understands the impact she made on girls of color like me. She was an inspiration to so many little Black girls. I happen to be one of them and I’m here and I’m trying to do my best and it’s because of her.”

Copyright © 2022, New York Daily News

Copyright © 2022, New York Daily News