Serena Williams announced that “the countdown has begun” to her retirement from her beloved tennis. She made the announcement on Tuesday, 9 August 2022.
Serena Williams’ plans for life after tennis
In an interview with Vogue, Williams got candid about the difficult choice she had to make between her career and her family. She mentions that she would have never wanted to choose between tennis and a family.
She said that she is “evolving away from tennis” and will leave the sport she dominated with 23 Grand Slam titles after the US Open, which is set to begin later this month.
Williams advanced to the second round of the Toronto Open on Monday, 8 August 2022. This was her second singles match since returning to action at Wimbledon in June 2022 after a year-long absence. She defeated Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
However, the 40-year-old said after that match that she could see the light at the end of her tennis career.
The tennis star also took to her Instagram to share the news.
“There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks,” She wrote in her caption.
Serena opened up about wanting to expand her family soon and focusing on wanting to be a better version of herself.
Williams won her final Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open while just a few months pregnant with her daughter, Olympia.
Williams has, however, failed to add a 24th major, which would have brought her up to Australian tennis player Margaret Court’s all-time record. Her final attempt will be at the US Open later this month in New York.
Williams made her debut on the grandest stage by winning the US Open in 1999. She would go on to win the tournament five more times.
In her career, Serena won seven Australian Open titles, three French Open titles, and seven Wimbledon titles in which she dominated opponents like no other athlete.
Williams also has 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her older sister, Venus Williams. Along with four Olympic gold medals: singles, doubles, and mixed doubles from 2000 until 2012. While she has earned the reputation of being tennis’ most ferocious competitor, Williams downplayed expectations for her final major after losing in the first round at Wimbledon.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try,” she wrote.
She ended her interview by saying that she is terrible at goodbyes. “Please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words … And I’m going to miss you,” she added.