Legendary tennis player Serena Williams has decided after 27 years of playing professional tennis, she is “evolving away” from the sport in order to prioritize her family.
Serena Williams’ Amazing Sign-Off After 27 Years of Professional Tennis
In a lengthy essay published by the media outlet Vogue, Williams discussed what her future has in store. With hesitancy, she admitted that the U.S. Open, which begins later this month, will likely be her last tournament. “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. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine,” she wrote.
Undeniably, the athlete is one of the best tennis players of all time, earning 23 Grand Slam titles since 1993. She began playing even younger, citing age three as the moment she could pick up a tennis racquet, so sharing this vulnerable news has been difficult. But, why is she saying goodbye to the career that has brought her so much joy? Apparently, she and her husband Alexis have been trying to have another baby for the last year.
At the beginning of her essay, Williams recalled a story that occurred between her and her five-year-old daughter Olympia. As her family prepared for a trip to Europe, Olympia was adamant about asking for a little sister and it had her parents thinking it was time to start trying for a baby.
Serena Williams admits that if she was a man, the retirement conversation wouldn’t be happening
“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,” the mother continued.
Williams even mentioned NFL quarterback Tom Brady due to his un-retirement which left the world in shock. When Tom Brady made the decision to retire and spend more time with his family, he revoked the statement two months later. In the tennis player’s essay, she shared that if she was a man, such as Brady, having to choose between a career and family would be a completely different story.
RELATED: LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, 36, Shows Concern For Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s Odd Elbow Pain
She shared, “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.”
However, as Williams continues on with her life, it is harder to juggle both motherhood, business, and professional athleticism. “I’ve been reluctant to admit that I have to move on from playing tennis. It’s like a taboo topic,” she added. “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me. A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”
Although fans won’t see Williams on the court, it is only expected that she will continue doing great things during this evolutionary part of her life.
Contents
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.