American tennis superstar, Serena Williams, has announced she will be retiring from the sport after the US Open.
Williams revealed this after claiming her first victory in 340 days since last year’s French Open at the National Bank Open on Monday.
The 40-year-old said: “I love playing, though… but, you know, I can’t do this forever. Sometimes you just want to try your best to enjoy the moments, and do the best that you can.”
Her comments had worried fans, but now the 23-time Grand Slam champion has confirmed her decision to bring her career to an end, announcing the news to the world in an interview with Vogue .
Williams, in an emotional statement, said: “I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give. I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me.
“I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution.”
She continued: “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me. I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually, it’s extraordinary.
“But I’ve been reluctant to admit to myself or anyone else that I have to move on from playing tennis. Alexis, my husband, and I have hardly talked about it; it’s like a taboo topic. I can’t even have this conversation with my mom and dad. It’s like it’s not real until you say it out loud. It comes up, I get an uncomfortable lump in my throat, and I start to cry. The only person I’ve really gone there with is my therapist!”
