Serena Williams Reveals Why She Doesn’t Reflect on Storied Tennis Career

Serena Williams called time on her career at the 2022 US Open where she lost in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic.

Serena Williams Reveals Why She Doesn’t Reflect on Storied Tennis Career

Serena Williams (Image via X/We Love Tennis)

Serena Williams doesn’t want to reminisce about her tennis career because she misses it so badly. The American hung up her racket at the 2022 US Open and now spends her time in her different business ventures.

Williams last lifted a title at the 2020 Auckland Open by beating compatriot Jessica Pegula. Her last Grand Slam title came in the 2017 Australian Open where she defeated her sister Venus Williams. Williams, during an interview with CNBC International, said she doesn’t look back at her illustrious career much.

It’s filled with so much nostalgia and honestly, sadness because I miss it. I just do the awful avoidance technique and just avoid it and just don’t think about it. I don’t want to talk about it, don’t honor me, don’t think about this. It just becomes really emotional for me because I still miss it. I don’t want to think about it.

Her career spanned nearly two decades, during which, the 43-year-old lifted 23 singles, 14 doubles, and two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. The former World No.1 ended her career with 73 singles titles, which is the fifth most of all time. In her last match, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic defeated her in straight sets in the third round at Flushing Meadows.

Patrick Mouratoglou reveals how his lie helped Serena Williams win Wimbledon

Patrick Mouratoglou was in Serena Williams‘ entourage from 2012 to 2022. During the Tennis Insider Club podcast, the Frenchman recalled the time when Williams used to struggle with volleys a lot during the start of Wimbledon (which year it was Mouratoglou didn’t remember). What he remembered was that his white lie led to her lifting the grass court Major.

Patrick Mouratoglou and Serena Williams (via Sky Sports)
Patrick Mouratoglou and Serena Williams (via Sky Sports)

Because she was struggling with volleys, Williams was scared of approaching the net. Then Mouratoglou told her after one match that she won 80 percent of points when she played near the net.

And she said, ‘Really? I thought I was terrible.’ But I said, ‘Maybe you think you’re terrible, but it’s not me, it’s the statistics who do it. This thing that was not true happened to be true. So from that point until the end of the tournament, because she believed it, she started to be really efficient, and she won 80% of the points at the net until the end of the tournament, and she won Wimbledon.

Under him, Williams captured 10 Grand Slam titles. After ending her partnership with Mouratoglou, Williams hired Eric Hechtman and then started to work with Rennae Stubbs.

Iga Swiatek becomes the first player to achieve a special milestone after Serena Williams

Iga Swiatek kick-started her campaign on the grass swing at the Bad Homburg Open, the final warm-up tournament along with the Eastbourne International before Wimbledon. Swiatek has never lifted a title on grass.

Iga Swiatek (4)
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

But in the German city, she reached a special milestone. In her first match, she defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka. It was her 300th tour-level win of her career. She took 372 matches to reach her 300 wins and is now the woman with the fewest matches played to achieve this after Williams. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion took just 359 matches to clinch 300 wins.

Swiatek hasn’t yet won a title since winning her fourth Roland Garros title in 2024. In this year’s French Open, the five-time Grand Slam champion lost to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

After Bad Homburg, the 24-year-old will be playing at Wimbledon where she hasn’t yet progressed to the semifinal. In 2023, she made it to the quarterfinals. Last year, however, Yulia Putintseva knocked the Pole out in the third round.

Also read: Taylor Fritz Opens Up About His Strict Upbringing and How He’s Breaking the Cycle With His Son