'Tennis Empress' Serena Williams Announces Retirement... "Want to Take Care of Family"

Serena Williams [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Serena Williams, the world-renowned American tennis star and 'Queen of Tennis' who has won 23 major singles titles, strongly hinted at her retirement on the 9th (local time).

Williams posted on her social network service (SNS) that "There comes a moment in life when you have to decide to move in a different direction. That moment is always a difficult time when you love something deeply," adding, "I enjoy tennis, but now the countdown has begun. I need to focus on becoming a mother and on spiritual goals. I need to focus on discovering a different Serena who finds joy."

In an interview with the fashion magazine Vogue released the same day, Williams said, "I don't like the word retirement. I think of it as a transition, and the best word is evolution," adding, "I am evolving away from tennis toward other things that are important to me." She mentioned, "A few years ago, I started a venture capital firm called Serena Ventures, and since then I have started a family. I want to take care of my family."

Williams said that people probably did not know she was two months pregnant when she won the 2017 Australian Open, and that she has been preparing for pregnancy since last year. She noted that she turned 41 this month and felt that some action was necessary. She said, "I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and family. I don't think this is fair. If I were a man, I wouldn't have done this because I could have played and won matches outside while my wife did the physical labor of raising our family."

After winning a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles match for the first time in 1 year and 2 months the previous day, Williams said immediately after the match, "I won after such a long time that I don't even know how it feels," and added, "Now I feel like I see the light at the end of the tunnel." When asked about the meaning of 'light,' she answered, "Freedom." She also hinted that her retirement is not far off, saying, "Of course, I love playing, but as everyone knows, it can't go on forever."

American media are cautiously speculating that Williams may retire after the US Open, which opens at the end of this month.

Born in 1981, Williams debuted at the 1998 US Open and has won 23 Grand Slam tournaments, earning her the title of Queen of Tennis.