Serena Williams is moving on. After years of speculation, the tennis icon announced her retirement in the September 2022 issue of Vogue. Serena said she wants to focus on growing her family without having to compete while pregnant, as she did while expecting her daughter, Olympia Ohanian. The 23-time Grand Slam Champion will also be more hands-on with her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures. The upcoming US Open, beginning on Aug. 29, will mark her final match.
Serena said:
I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis toward other things that are important to me.
Despite the endless conversation about her retirement, the 41-year-old said she rarely spoke about the subject with anyone, including her husband, Alexis Ohanian. In fact, her therapist was the only person with whom she discussed her retirement.
It’s like a taboo topic. It’s like it’s not real until you say it out loud.
Serena was candid about her mixed emotions and the sorrow she feels in saying goodbye to the sport that has been her life.
One thing I’m not going to do is sugarcoat this. I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way.
She also expressed her frustration in having to choose between her career and family, something that is forced on women athletes and not men.
I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. [. . .] There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.
In the interview, the tennis legend reflected on both small and monumental moments in her career, including her early years of training with her sister Venus Williams, recently chronicled in the Oscar-nominated film “King Richard.”
My whole life, up to now, has been tennis. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to look at this magazine when it comes out, knowing that this is it, the end of a story that started in Compton, California, with a little Black girl who just wanted to play tennis. This sport has given me so much.
Currently, Serena holds 23 grand slam titles, just one shy of beating the record held by Margaret Court.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary.
When asked about the chance of tying the record at the upcoming US Open, she said:
I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try.
Though she should expect one, the tennis icon isn’t seeking a big send off.
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. You have carried me to so many wins and so many trophies. I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis. And I’m going to miss you.
We will miss you too, Queen. . . we’ll miss you too. 🥹