Tennis Star Serena Williams Declares Her Retirement From The Sport

There are no guarantees that things will remain the same. As people live longer and attain greater wisdom, they tend to evolve in the most suitable ways for their lives and ages. Particularly when you have a family, you must make sacrifices. According to Vogue, the world’s leading female tennis player, Serena Williams, announced yesterday that she is retiring from the sport after the 2022 U.S. Open to devote herself to raising her family and pursuing other interests.



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Williams announced that it will be her final game at this year’s U.S. Open, which is scheduled for three weeks from now. There’s still a chance for her to end her career with a big win. However, it is not on her agenda to achieve that.
Serena Fulfilled Her Obligations As A Mother, Cultural Leader, And A Tennis Player

It is no secret that the 40-year-old mother is one of the most recognizable figures on and off the court. As Serena has proven to us time and time again, she is the ultimate multi-tasking pro when it comes to juggling multiple responsibilities. In addition to her outstanding career as a tennis all-star, she is also an accomplished mom with an impeccable ability to handle everything mommy duties require.
“I was one of those annoying women who adored being pregnant and was working until the day I had to report to the hospital — although things got super complicated on the other side,” Williams said.
In 2017, the 23-time Grand Slam winner made a dangerous decision. According to Vibe, at the Australian Open, Serena Williams participated in a tennis match while two months pregnant. However, during childbirth, she had a near-death experience that she will never forget. The desire to pursue something that satisfies your passion is one thing, but you should always consider your well-being before dedicating time to it. Women who put too much stress on their bodies are more likely to suffer from miscarriages because their bodies will be overworked. A good rule of thumb would be to avoid doing anything risky if at all possible.

In addition to her role as a Black woman in tennis, the tennis legend also played a pivotal role in culture inside and outside the sport. Serena is a figure regarded not only as a cultural leader but also as someone who exceeded the sport. In 1999, she won her first grand slam at 19. Since then, she has earned many awards throughout her career.
Retirement Is Not A Pleasant Experience For The Tennis Player
Her decision to leave her sports career on the cover of Vogue was explained in an essay written in her own words. In this essay, she shares her decision to commit herself to business ventures and parenting.

The philanthropist mentions that a few years ago, she quietly started a venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, based in San Francisco, California. Williams has not been easy to acknowledge to herself or others that she has moved on from tennis.
“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,” she said. “It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads.”

A person engaged in a particular activity for an extended time may find it difficult to move on from it. The tennis player is not the only one affected by her retirement. Several fans and viewers worldwide have also expressed shock at the news.

Serena Williams is retiring. Imagine after Lewis Hamilton, Leo Messi, LeBron James, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire. Man sports are gonna die.
— ashley (@4463CEDES) August 9, 2022

Waking up to the news Serena Williams will retire after US Open 💔 selfishly never wanted this day to come. #SerenaWilliams
— Katie Brown 🤸🏼‍♀️ (@katiebrownaus) August 9, 2022

Tennis fans have been treated to many memorable matches. Regardless of how long it takes to be forgotten, Serena Williams will remain an exceptional tennis player with an unfailing work ethic.
Venus And Serena Make A Dynamic Duo
As a child, Williams was trained by her father on public tennis courts in Los Angeles. In 1995, Williams became a professional tennis player, one year after her sister Venus became a professional. Their remarkable athletic talent, powerful serves, and ground strokes soon attracted much attention due to their outstanding abilities.

Venus Williams was widely predicted to be the first Williams sister to win a Grand Slam singles title. However, Serena achieved the feat when she won the 1999 U.S. Open. A tournament of this magnitude cannot be underestimated regarding its impact on tennis history. The twin sisters won the doubles event and 14 Grand Slam titles together throughout their careers.

The Tennis Player Aspired To Be As Good As Venus

As a child, Serena did not know how to play tennis. She had no idea what it took to be a pro in the game. According to the tennis all-star, King Richard’s movie confirms that she was not a competent tennis player in her youth. When it came to opportunities, she was distraught that she did not get all of them as Venus did. Nevertheless, it motivated her to work harder. Training harder enabled her to sharpen her savage fighting skills, allowing Serena to travel to tournaments with Venus as her hitting partner.

In the same way that her sister has been praised for her abilities, Venus deserves to be recognized and given credit for hers.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist stayed close to her sister and watched her play tennis worldwide. She understood Venus’s reasons for losing games and ensured that she would not repeat the same mistakes in the future. Since the 40-year-old gained experience from Venus’ loss, she ascended the rankings quickly. Serena learned from her sister’s mistakes rather than making her own.



Written by Nikiya Biggs

Instagram: @ngv6236 | Twitter: @BiggsNikiya

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