After being eliminated by Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic from the US Open on Friday, Serena Williams undoubtedly suffered a setback that will terminate her career.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion and six-time New York champion was defeated 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1 in her third-round match.
Without a major championship since 2017, Williams' 27-year career is now almost certainly over. Williams, who turns 41 in three weeks, had stated that she was "vague" about her retirement plans.
Although the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion was pleased with her New York performances, she later admitted that she was already considering life after tennis.
According to Her, "It takes a lot of work to get here. Clearly, I’m still capable," Williams said.
"It takes a lot more than that. I’m ready to, like, be a mom, explore a different version of Serena.
"Technically in the world I’m still super young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking."
Williams said she aspires to continue playing tennis in some form, but for the time being, she wants to spend more time with her 5-year-old daughter Olympia.
"It’s been really hard on her, my career,” she said. “So it will be nice just to do that and spend some time with her, do things that I never really have done or had an opportunity to do."
Williams said that she was unsure of the place tennis will hold in her life.
"I’ve had so many amazing moments, that I don’t see a future without it,” she said. “What’s my involvement? I have no idea."
Williams thanked the audience and cried as Tina Turner's anthem "Simply the Best" blared throughout the stadium.
"It’s been a fun ride," Williams said. "It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on, I mean, in my life.
"I’m just so grateful to every single person that’s ever said, ‘Go, Serena,’ in their life. You got me here."
"Technically in the world I’m still super young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking."
Williams said she aspires to continue playing tennis in some form, but for the time being, she wants to spend more time with her 5-year-old daughter Olympia.
"It’s been really hard on her, my career,” she said. “So it will be nice just to do that and spend some time with her, do things that I never really have done or had an opportunity to do."
Williams said that she was unsure of the place tennis will hold in her life.
"I’ve had so many amazing moments, that I don’t see a future without it,” she said. “What’s my involvement? I have no idea."
Williams thanked the audience and cried as Tina Turner's anthem "Simply the Best" blared throughout the stadium.
"It’s been a fun ride," Williams said. "It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on, I mean, in my life.
"I’m just so grateful to every single person that’s ever said, ‘Go, Serena,’ in their life. You got me here."
Williams made special mention of her parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price, who launched her and her older sister Venus into the tennis professional ladder.
Williams remarked, "My parents were the beginning of it all. "They deserve it all,"
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