Serena Williams has hinted that she will retire from tennis, saying she will “grow” away from the sport after the US Open.
Writing for Vogue, The 23-time American Grand Slam women’s singles champion said she is working towards “other things that are important to me”, adding that she doesn’t 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-year-old man 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’m not ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I’ll be ready to win New York. But I will try,” she wrote.
“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might 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 returned to the sport, reaching four major finals after returning from maternity leave. She has lost everything, leaving her, tantalizingly, slightly short of the Court’s record.
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 on two feet into tennis or on two feet.”
The numbers behind an all-time great
- 23 Grand Slam singles titles – the most of any woman in the Open Era
- seventy three Overall WTA title, including all four Slams at least three times
- 39 combine major titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles
- 14 main double title with sister Venus
- 4 Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles
- 319 many weeks at the top of the world rankings
- 186 consecutive weeks at number one – a record shared with Chris Evert
- 94 million dollars bonus
- 71.3% winning record against players in the top 10
‘I can do it, so can you’
Williams is one of the sport’s most iconic stars, attracting a full spectrum of stadiums and devoted fans throughout her career.
She and her sister Venus are considered by many to have changed the face of tennis and inspired future players, as well as promoting gender equality.
Williams describes the “nature of being Serena” as “expecting the best from yourself and proving everyone wrong”.
“There were a lot of matches I won because something made me angry or someone charged me. That got me fired,” she said.
“My sister Venus once said that when someone says you can’t do something, it’s because they can’t. But I did. And so can you.”
Williams also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside Venus, two Slam doubles titles and four Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.
As with many of her highs, she’s had a number of near misses when it comes to additions to her grand standings, including emotional exits at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2021. .
She also had some controversial moments at the US Open, including the 2018 final in New York, where she accused referee Carlos Ramos of being a thief.
Ranked by Forbes as highest earning female athlete Williams has turned to business in recent years, starting as a venture capital firm.
She was also part of the team sponsoring a new Los Angeles-based women’s team during the National Women’s Soccer League season.
“I don’t particularly like thinking about my legacy. I get asked about it a lot and I never know exactly what to say,” Williams added.
“But I like to think that thanks to the opportunities given to me, female athletes feel that they can be themselves on the court.
“They can play aggressive and punchy. They can be strong but beautiful. They can wear what they want and say what they want and kick their ass and be proud of it all.
“I don’t know how I could have looked at this magazine when it came out, knowing that this is it, the end of a story that began in Compton, California, with a little Black girl who just wanted to play tennis. .”
‘One of the greatest athletes of all time – reaction
Coco Gauff number 11 in the world of America: “I grew up watching her. I mean, that’s why I play tennis.
“Tennis is a predominantly white sport, it certainly helped a lot. Because I saw someone who looked like me dominate the match. It made me believe I could dominate, too. treat.”
Former world number one Billie Jean King: “When Serena leaves tennis, she will leave as the sport’s greatest player.
“After a career that has inspired a new generation of players and fans, she will forever be known as a champion who won the field and elevated the sport’s global reputation. this sport.”
Former world number one John McEnroe: “She’s an icon. Her place in American society has gone to where she deserves to be after everything she’s accomplished, everything she’s accomplished.
“She’s one of the all-time great athletes in the history of any sport – male or female.”
American tennis player Taylor Townsend: “Thank you for the path you and Venus have paved to allow me to be here and make a life for myself and my son! You will miss it, but so excited to see what happens next.”
