Serena Williams says she will be ‘evolving away’ from tennis – suggesting retirement after US Open
Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and one of tennis’ greatest, has spoken out about her retirement – saying she’s “growing” away from the sport after the US Open.
Writing for Vogue, The American said she is working towards “other things that are important to me”, adding that she does not like the word “retirement”.
In an accompanying Instagram post, she wrote that “the countdown has begun”.
“I’ll love these for the next few weeks,” 40 years old said.
Williams returned to singles at Wimbledon in June after a long stretch of injuries that led to speculation about her retirement.
She said she will play at the US Open, where she has won her six major singles titles, at the end of August.
Williams has won more major singles titles than any woman in the Open era and the second most of all time, behind Margaret Court of 24.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I’m ready to win New York. But I will try,” she wrote.
“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I could have tied Margaret that day in London, maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the title ceremony had said, “See you later! ”
“I see. It’s a great fantasy. But I’m not looking for some final ritual moments on the field.
“I’m terrible at goodbyes, the worst thing in the world. But know that I am more grateful to you than I can express in words.”
In Monday, she won her first single in 14 months, beat Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz to reach the second round of the National Bank Open in Toronto.
‘It was the hardest thing I could imagine’
In the lengthy essay, Williams said she was “reluctant to admit to myself or anyone else that I had to switch to tennis”.
“Alexis, my husband and I barely talk about it; it’s like a taboo subject,” she wrote.
“I can’t even talk about this with my mom and dad. It’s like it’s not real until you say it out loud. It came out, I felt a lump in my throat and I started crying.
“I know that a lot of people are excited and looking forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way.”
In singles, Williams has won seven Wimbledon and Australian Open titles, along with six US Open titles and three French Open titles.
Her first major title was the 1999 US Open, when she was 17 years old.
She won her final Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open when she was eight weeks pregnant with daughter Olympia.
She said that there is no happiness in being able to no longer play tennis.
“I know it’s not a normal thing to say, but I felt so much pain. It was the hardest thing I could imagine,” she wrote.
“I hate it. I hate having to stand at this fork in the road. I always say to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.
“I’m torn: I don’t want it to end, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”
Williams nearly died in childbirth with Olympia but has returned to the sport, reaching four major finals since returning from maternity leave.
She discussed having more children in her essay, saying, “I definitely don’t want to get pregnant again as an athlete.
“I need to be two feet into the tennis or two feet out.”
Than to follow.
