Serena Williams’ appearance at the National Bank Open in Toronto will be the last of her career.
The tennis legend said earlier Tuesday that he plans to retire from tennis sometime after the US Open, which starts later this month.
Williams, who won her first match at the National Bank Open on Monday, made the announcement in an essay published by Vogue magazine.
“I’ll be 41 this month and something’s got to give,” Williams wrote in an essay published Tuesday by Vogue magazine.
She said she wasn’t sure she’d be able to look at the magazine when the issue hit newsstands, “knowing that this is it, the end of a story that started in Compton, California, with a little black girl who just wanted to play tennis “.
Williams, one of the greatest and most accomplished athletes in the history of her sport, or any other, said she doesn’t like the word retirement and prefers to think of this stage in her life as an “evolution of tennis, no to other things.” that are important to me.”
Williams is playing in Toronto this week, in a hard-court tournament leading up to the US Open, the final Grand Slam event of the year, which begins in New York on August 29.
LOOK | Williams advances to second round:
Serena Williams advances to the second round of the National Bank Open
Serena Williams defeated Nuria Parrizas-Diaz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, her first singles win since the 2021 French Open.
The American has won more Grand Slam titles in the professional era than any other woman or man. Only one player, Margaret Court, collected more, 24, although she won some of hers in the amateur era.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want this record. Obviously I do. But day-to-day, I’m not really thinking about her. If I’m in a Grand Slam final, then yes, I am. thinking about this record,” Williams said . “Maybe I overthought it, and that didn’t help. The way I see it, I should have had more than 30 Grand Slams.”
I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair.— American tennis player Serena Williams
But Williams went on to write, “These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”
Off tour for a year
She and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have a daughter, Olympia, who will be 5 on September 1st.
“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair,” said Williams, who was pregnant when she won the 2017 Australian Open for her last Grand Slam trophy . “If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be playing and winning while my wife did the physical work of growing our family.”
Williams was off the tour for about a year after being injured during her first-round match at Wimbledon in 2021. She returned to singles competition at the All England Club this June and lost in the first round.
After that loss, Williams was asked if she would compete again.
“That’s a question I can’t answer,” he said at the time. “I don’t know… Who knows? Who knows where it will appear?”
Williams hints in the essay that the US Open will be her last tournament, but does not say so explicitly.
“I’m not looking for a ceremonial, final moment on the court,” Williams wrote. “I’m terrible at goodbyes, the worst in the world.”
Plans to celebrate in Toronto
The announcement has already set in motion plans to celebrate Williams, along with ticket sales that have soared according to tournament director Karl Hale.
“Tremendously (everything impacts the tournament). Ticket sales have gone through the roof, we’ll be sold out by 6pm today, which doesn’t usually happen on a Wednesday,” he said. “The requests from the media have been overwhelming to say the least, everyone wants to see Serena and talk to her. Even the players in the players room, everyone is talking about Serena.”
“Tomorrow night, we’ll be celebrating for sure.”
The American has won more Grand Slam titles in the professional era than any other woman or man. Only one player, Margaret Court, collected more, 24, although she won some of hers in the amateur era.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want this record. Obviously I do. But day-to-day, I’m not really thinking about her. If I’m in a Grand Slam final, then yes, I am. thinking about this record,” Williams said . “Maybe I overthought it, and that didn’t help. The way I see it, I should have had more than 30 Grand Slams.”
But Williams went on to write, “These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”
She and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have a daughter, Olympia, who will be 5 on September 1st.
Sad news for younger players
While Williams’ announcement is seen as imminent, for younger players such as American Coco Gauff, the news is still sad.
“Kind of sad because I’ve always wanted to play her so hopefully my draw in Cincinnati or the US Open or even here can work out so we can play each other because that’s one of my goals.” said the 18. -said a boy.
His legacy has been one to behold and one that Gauff believes may be untouchable.
“I think the legacy that he has left on the world just in his tennis career is something that I don’t think any other player can touch. I think the legacy that he will continue to leave throughout his life is something that can inspire many generations more. ,” she said.
When asked about her impact as a young black tennis player, Gauff made sure to point out that it wasn’t just Williams who made an impact, but her father Richard Williams as well.
“I grew up watching her. That’s why I played tennis. Tennis is a predominantly white sport, it definitely helped a lot because I saw someone who looked like me dominating the game and it made me believe that I could do it too .
“Mr. Williams and everything he’s done for both (Venus and Serena) inspired my dad to continue coaching me and helping me even though he didn’t (have much) experience in tennis. He said, ‘yeah Mr. Williams could do it, then I will. It’s not just what Serena and Venus have left, it’s the whole Williams family in general.”