Serena Williams is prepares to retire from tennis in the coming weeks, making the announcement in the September edition of Vogue. The 40-year-old, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, said “it’s the hardest thing I can imagine.”
“I was hesitant to admit that I needed to stop playing tennis,” the former No. 1 ranked tennis player wrote. “It’s like a taboo subject. It comes up and I start crying. I think the only person I’ve really been there with is my therapist.
“Perhaps the best word to describe what I’m doing is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving from tennis to other things that are important to me.”
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The four-time Olympic gold medalist shared on Instagram Tuesday that “the countdown has begun” and she will enjoy the next few weeks.
“There comes a time in life when we must decide to go in a different direction,” Williams wrote. “This time is always difficult when you love something so much. God, I love tennis. But now the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, on my spiritual goals and finally on the discovery of a different but simply exciting Serena. I will enjoy these next few weeks.
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Williams will end her career after the US Open – which is scheduled to begin on August 29 – to focus on building her family. Williams and Alexis Ohanian have been married since November 2017 and have one child together.
“Last year, Alexis and I tried for another child, and we recently received information from my doctor that reassured me and made me feel that when we are ready, we will be able to expand our family ,” Williams continued. “I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I have to be two feet in or two feet out of tennis.
The announcement comes just a day after Williams won her first match in more than a year on Monday at the Toronto National Open.
Contact Analis Bailey at [email protected] or on Twitter @analisbailey.
