“When you see the finish line, you speed up!” Serena Williams’ plans for retirement had always been dubious and uncertain
Follow Us
Serena Williams
Serena Williams, the former world number one, finally bid adieu to the competitive world of tennis after she was defeated in the third round by Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-1 in around three hours of play at the 2022 US Open. The champion received an emotional farewell in her final match. She had started off on a good note at the final Grand Slam event of her career even after not having a good build-up to the US Open due to early-round exits.
The 23-time singles Grand Slam champion looked strong and confident but she was outplayed by the Aussie to put the final brakes on her glorious career that lasted for nearly almost three decades. Serena had defeated the top seed Anett Kontaveit to cruise her way into the third round in the hope of trying a final shot at the title win.
The six-time singles US Open champion has etched some great accomplishments in the history of tennis and is undoubtedly one of the greatest female athletes as she has taken women’s tennis to new heights. She shook the world when she announced her retirement in August and revealed that she intends to lead a spiritual life discovering new dimensions, especially getting more time to spend with her daughter Olympia Ohanian.
“I absolutely want more Grand Slams,” Serena Williams always remained uncertain of her retirement plans
Serena Williams‘s retirement plans had been doing the rounds since she had been out of action for quite some time and consistent injuries which had been a major concern since her comeback in June. She received a very emotional farewell at the fully packed Arthur Ashe stadium where she had won her first singles title in the year 1999.
During an interview, Serena opened up about her concerns with the fitness levels she had to face after becoming a mother. She even stated about the time when had to opt out of the Australian Open in 2018 as she felt that she is not ready after giving birth to her daughter. She said “To be honest, there’s something really attractive about the idea of moving to San Francisco and just being a mom. But not yet. Maybe this goes without saying, but it needs to be said in a powerful way: I absolutely want more Grand Slams.“
She further revealed her retirement plans but also stated that she will keep fighting till the last point. She added “I’m well aware of the record books, unfortunately. It’s not a secret that I have my sights on 25. At my age, I see the finish line. And when you see the finish line, you don’t slow down. You speed up.“
Stay Updated!
Prateek Pradhan
(601 Articles Published)