TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 08: Serena Williams of the United States serves against Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain during the National Bank Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at Sobeys Stadium on August 8, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tennis great Serena Williams has announced that after this year's U.S. Open, she plans to retire.
Serena shared the news with Vogue Tuesday (Aug. 9) as she graces the prestigious magazine's September cover: "I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst," Williams said. "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." The tennis star added, "I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis. And I’m going to miss you." She said that "I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” noting that she plans to work with her venture capital firm. She also plans on growing her family.
She said on Instragam, "There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. 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." She didn't say exactly when she would officially retire.
Serena Williams currently has 23 individual Grand Slams and 14 in doubles alongside her sister, Venus. Her most recent win was back in 2017 when she was two months pregnant with her now four-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia who she shares with her husband Alexis Ohanian who is the co-founder of Reddit.
The U.S. Open will be held in Flushing, N.Y. at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The championship begins Aug. 29 and runs until Sep. 11.
