The 40-year-old mom and Allstar tennis player announced her retirement yesterday.
Serena Williams has proven time and time again that she is ‘that girl.’ Whether it’s her pristine career as an all-star tennis player, or her effortless ability to take on mom duty at 40 years old, Serena needs no introduction on and off the court.
Though William’s career trajectory speaks for itself with a groundbreaking winning record of 855-153, the tennis champion has decided that it’s finally time for her to set the towel aside.
Williams recently announced her retirement from tennis in a Vogue article published on Tuesday, which comes as a major shock to fans and spectators worldwide. She described her retirement as an “evolution” and wants to focus on other areas of her life that are important to her.
“I have never liked the word ‘retirement,‘” Williams wrote in Vogue. “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is ‘evolution.’ I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
Serena Was Two Months Pregnant When She Won The Australian Open In 2017
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In Serena’s own words, she detailed a few reasons for her retirement, as well as disclosing that she was two months pregnant when she won the Australian Open in 2017, a fact many people did not know about her.
“A lot of people don’t realize that I was two months pregnant when I won the Australian Open in 2017. But I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give,” says Williams in Vogue.
She Was Reluctant To Retire And Didn’t Want To Choose Between Tennis And Family
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It’s true that the 40-year-old mom found her true passion at the young age of 14, and ever since, she’s been following the path that was rightfully laid out for her. Though as Williams started to get older, she didn’t want to choose between playing tennis and starting a family.
“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family,” she wrote in her Vogue article. “Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity. Don’t get me wrong: I love being a woman, and I loved every second of being pregnant with Olympia.”
Serena Is Mourning Her Career In Tennis And Didn’t Want To Say Goodbye
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And though many fans and spectators around the world are shocked to see Williams bid adieu to the sport, Williams was just as shocked herself and is currently mourning her past in 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. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”