By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Serena Williams has devoted much of her life to tennis.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion says she’s ready to embrace life after tennis and will retire.
More: Serena Scores First Win of Season
In a new Vogue Magazine cover story, the 23-time Grand Slam champion says she will bid farewell to tennis in Flushing Meadows at this month’s US Open.
“I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try,” Serena tells Vogue. “And the lead-up tournaments will be fun.
“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret [Court] that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, “See ya!” I get that. 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. 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.”
Serena said she and husband Alexis Ohanian plan to expand their family and confessed “I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.”
Fighting with her trademark ferocity, Williams stopped Spanish lucky loser Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-3, 6-4 on Monday to score her first singles win in a year-and-a-half at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
Afterward, the 41-year-old superstar dropped a major retirement hint.
“I guess there’s just a light at the end of the tunnel,” Williams said with a smile. “I don’t know, I’m guess closer to the light, so… “Yeah, so that’s, like lately that’s been it for me. I can’t wait to get to that light.”
Asked if she was joking, Williams replied: “I’m not joking.”
The four-time Olympic gold-medal champion clarified “the light” she’s referring to represents “freedom” of life after tennis.
“I love playing though, so it’s like amazing,” Serena told the media in Toronto. “But, you know, I can’t do this forever.
“So it’s just like sometimes you just want to try your best to enjoy the moments and do the best that you can.”
Williams’ comments come as she graces the cover of Vogue Magazine bearing the headline “Serena’s Farewell.”
In the Vogue cover story, Serena says while she doesn’t like using the word “retirement” she’s ready to transition from tennis and expand her family.
“I have never liked the…
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