Serena Williams Announces Her Retirement From Tennis

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Although she’s wording it differently, Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes of our time, is saying goodbye to the beautiful game of tennis. Williams, in an interview for the September issue of Vogue, said “I’m evolving away from tennis, towards other things that are important to me.”

In her conversation with the magazine, the 23-time Grand Slam winner said that she has been reluctant to admit to herself and anyone else that she has to move on from the sport.

She has discussed it in depth with neither her husband, Alexis Ohanian, nor her parents. Williams said she doesn’t like talking about it because it gets her emotional, but the one person she opens up to, no holds barred, is her therapist.

Serena Williams with husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Alexis Ohanian Jr. Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

While she had been wholeheartedly dedicated to her career and the sport, she admits that her priorities have shifted, especially since having her daughter. “These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter.”

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She also recalled a few instances where she’s heard her daughter Alexis Ohanian Jr. – whom Williams refers to by her middle name Olympia – ask for a baby sister. Williams confirmed that she wants more children but she also knows that she doesn’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete.

Serena Williams celebrates her victory at Wimbledon in 2015. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

As to what comes after tennis, Williams said that she would split her time between raising her daughter – something she absolutely adores doing – and focusing on expanding Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm she quietly started in 2014.

We never thought we’d see the GOAT (an acronym for Greatest Of All Time) retire for good, but we’re wishing Serena Williams all the best!

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