Serena Williams is “evolving away from tennis” and plans to retire from the sport she dominated with 23 grand slam titles following the US Open, which begins later this month.
Williams played on Monday only her second singles match since she returned to action at Wimbledon in June after a year-long absence from competition, beating Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz to reach the second round of the Toronto Open.
But the 40-year-old said after that match that she could see the light at the end of the tennis tunnel in her career.
“I have never liked the word retirement,” Williams wrote in a Vogue article on Tuesday.
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.
“A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”
Williams won her last grand slam in 2017 and has been chasing an elusive 24th crown that will draw her level with Margaret Court who holds the record for the most majors.
She came tantalisingly close to achieving that feat, featuring in four major finals since giving birth to daughter Olympia in 2017.
“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT (greatest of all time) because I didn’t pass Court’s record, which she achieved before the ‘Open era’ that began in 1968,” former world number one Williams said.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a Slam final, then yes, I’m thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.”
Williams later said in an Instagram post that it was time to move in a “different direction.”
“That time is always hard when you love something so much,” she added. “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.”
Williams announced herself on the grandest stage by winning the 1999 US Open, a tournament she would go on to claim five more times.
In a storied career during which she dominated rivals like no other athlete, she also claimed seven Australian Open titles, three French Open titles and seven Wimbledon crowns.
Williams also owns 14 women’s grand slam doubles titles with older sister Venus and has won four Olympic gold medals: singles (2012), doubles (2000, 2008, 2012).
While she has well-earned the reputation as tennis’ fiercest competitor, Williams played down expectations for her final major, after losing in the opening 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.
“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York… It’s a good fantasy. But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment.
“I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst. But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words… And I’m going to miss you.”
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Margaret Court better on and off the court. Serena ungracious in defeat, full of arrogance and tantrums, I will never forget her tantrum at the US Tennis Open Final in 2018 v Naomi Osaka, she was disgraceful.
Hooligan
Guest
Here, here sir. You could add further Martina Navratilova or a Steffi Graf were better because they had tougher opponents to deal with. Who has Serena had to beat of note? It was a thin field at the top. Does anything seriously suggest, with the old wooden racquets and balls, mainly turf and rough surfaces they used to play on in the 1970s and 1980s that Serena could match Martina? That is also laughable. Serena would have been run ragged. She has dominated her era, granted, but is not necessarily the greatest of all time.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Your last 2 paragraphs sum up my feelings. Like Sharipova, Serena thought she was greater than the game. I applaud John McEnroe for standing up to the woke crowd and putting things in perspective when they suggested Serena Williams could compete on an equal footing with most men. Total nonsense! Throughout her career Serena triumphed because of her power game. More often than not opponents would play the ball right back to her. Whenever they made her run her rhythm and timing was compromised and her form deteriorated. Then they would start playing the ball back to her to bring her back into the match. The best example of that I can remember is when Alicia Molik had Serena dead to rights in a Wimbledon quarter-final. Serena feigned injury, that she twisted her ankle and was limping and crying. Molik took pity and served lollipop serves and started playing the ball back to her like she was a 10-year-old. Needless to say Serena found her rhythm and got herself back in the match and went on to defeat Molik and win the Wimbledon crown. Serena was a bully too used to getting her own way or having a tantrum whenever she didn't. I could never stand Serena's brashness and arrogance which she showed signs of in her ungracious exit. Margaret Court on the other hand was always an ornament to the game and has been monumentally disrespected and consigned to oblivion by most of the tennis world in her retirement simply for voicing her views outside of the game. I am so glad she still wears the ladies tennis crown and probably always will.
Hoolifan
Guest
Well done to Williams on an incredible career of great success. She did fall short of Margaret Court in the all time major championships won. I know the Serena Brigade point to amateur and pro eras, well in that time Court was in the best league the entire time, there was nothing else of note. Playing Wednesday afternoon Sydney pennant? What was better? Court won plenty of majors/events post 1968 also. And overall she won a lot of doubles and mixed doubles majors so Court is well ahead on all counts. Serena could argue she is better because today's women's tennis has better depth. That is true, but you can only beat what you are playing against. So there is a flip side to that argument. Never forgetting too, in today's world they get paid so much. Court had to go and work in the off season in a regular job to fund her travels. How would you go in that life Serena? A princess like her with a mop in a factory. Character wise, Serena has plenty of flaws. Who can forget that selfish US Open meltdown? She was never truthfully gracious, even today she was backhanded about falling one short of Margaret Court and then using the 'pre Open era' argument. She conveniently did not mention that Court did in fact win plenty after 1968. For mine, I am glad she played and I had a chance to see her. But she also has left a sour taste in my mouth about her arrogance and trying to claim to be the greatest overall tennis player which was laughable.