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SPORTS Wednesday 10 august 2022
Serena Williams says ‘countdown has begun’ to retirement

By HOWARD FENDRICH more, 24, although the
AP Tennis Writer Australian won a portion of
Saying “the countdown hers in the amateur era.
has begun,” 23-time Grand “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t
Slam champion Serena Wil- want that record. Obvious-
liams announced Tuesday ly I do. But day to day, I’m
she is ready to step away really not thinking about
from tennis so she can turn her. If I’m in a Grand Slam
her focus to having another final, then yes, I am think-
child and her business inter- ing about that record,”
ests, presaging the end of Williams said. “Maybe I
a career that transcended thought about it too much,
sports. and that didn’t help. The
In an essay released Tues- way I see it, I should have
day by Vogue magazine, had 30-plus Grand Slams.”
and a post on Instagram But, Williams went on to
the sorts of direct-to-fans write, “These days, if I have
communication favored to choose between build-
these days by celebrities, ing my tennis resume and
a category she most defi- building my family, I choose
nitely fits Williams was not the latter.”
completely clear on the She and her husband, Red-
timeline for her last match, dit co-founder Alexis Oha-
but she made it sound as Serena Williams waves as she leaves the court after losing to France’s Harmony Tan in a first round nian, have a daughter,
if that could be at the U.S. women’s singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, Olympia, who turns 5 on
Open, which begins Aug. June 28, 2022. Sept. 1.
29 in New York. Associated Press “Believe me, I never want-
“There comes a time in life ing 30 are unsurpassed her Slam event and one she and switch from defense to ed to have to choose be-
when we have to decide history of injuries and her re- has won six times, most re- offense in a blink, and an tween tennis and a family.
to move in a different di- cent record: one victory in cently in 2014, to go along enviable will to win. That I don’t think it’s fair,” said
rection. That time is always a singles match in the past with seven titles apiece at unflinching desire to be Williams, who was preg-
hard when you love some- 12 months (that win arrived Wimbledon and the Aus- the best helped make her nant when she won the
thing so much. My good- Monday in Toronto; she is tralian Open, plus three at the best and also some- 2017 Australian Open for
ness do I enjoy tennis. But scheduled to play again the French Open, across a times got her into trouble her last Grand Slam trophy.
now, the countdown has on Wednesday). career remarkable for its with chair umpires during “If I were a guy, I wouldn’t
begun,” Williams, who turns Her status as an athlete, peaks and its longevity. matches, most infamously be writing this because I’d
41 next month, wrote on and a groundbreaker, is She also owns 14 Grand during the 2018 U.S. Open be out there playing and
Instagram. “I have to fo- obvious to everyone. Slam doubles champi- final she lost to Naomi Osa- winning while my wife was
cus on being a mom, my “Serena Williams is a gen- onships, all won with her ka, a woman more than doing the physical labor of
spiritual goals and finally erational, if not multi-gen- older sister, Venus, part of a decade younger who expanding our family.”
discovering a different, but erational, talent who had a remarkable tale of two grew up idolizing Williams, Williams said she and Oha-
just (as) exciting Serena. a profound impact on the siblings from Compton, as have so many of today’s nian want to have a sec-
I’m gonna relish these next game of tennis, but an California, who grew up players. ond baby, and wrote: “I
few weeks.” even greater influence to both be ranked No. 1, The official Twitter feed for definitely don’t want to be
Williams, one of the great- on women in sports, busi- win dozens of trophies and Wimbledon posted this pregnant again as an ath-
est and most accomplished ness and society. At a time dominate tennis for stretch- message Tuesday above lete. I need to be two feet

athletes in the history of her when our nation and the es a story told in the Oscar- a photo of Williams: “Some into tennis or two feet out.”
or any other sport, wrote in world have wrestled with winning film “King Richard.” play the game. Others She was off the tour for
the essay that she does not essential issues of identity, Venus, who is 42 and still change it.” about a year after getting
like the word “retirement” Serena has stood as a sin- competing, was the first in “I don’t particularly like to injured during her first-round
and prefers to think of this gular exemplar of the best the family to break through, think about my legacy. I match at Wimbledon in
stage of her life as “evolv- of humanity after break- reaching her first Grand get asked about it a lot, 2021. She returned to sin-
ing away from tennis, to- ing through countless bar- Slam final at the 1997 U.S. and I never know exactly gles competition at the All
ward other things that are riers to her participation Open. But it was Serena what to say. But I’d like to England Club this June and
important to me.” and ultimate success,” U.S. who soon surpassed her think that thanks to oppor- lost in the first round.
“I feel a great deal of pain. Open tournament director sister, winning the 1999 U.S. tunities afforded to me, “Unfortunately I wasn’t
It’s the hardest thing that I Stacey Allaster said. “She Open at age 17 and then women athletes feel that ready to win Wimbledon
could ever imagine. I hate leaves an indelible legacy going on to add 22 more they can be themselves on this year. And I don’t know
it. I hate that I have to be at of grace and grit that will such triumphs (Venus won the court,” Williams wrote. if I will be ready to win New
this crossroads,” she wrote. inspire athletes, female and seven major singles titles), “They can play with ag- York,” Williams wrote in her
“I keep saying to myself, male, for many generations eventually establishing her- gression and pump their essay. “But I’m going to
I wish it could be easy for to come. We can’t thank self as a one-of-a-kind su- fists. They can be strong yet try.”
me, but it’s not. I’m torn: I her enough for all she has perstar, known for far more beautiful. They can wear Williams hints in the Vogue
don’t want it to be over, done for our sport.” than her talent with a rack- what they want and say essay that the U.S. Open
but at the same time I’m U.S. Tennis Association et in hand. what they want and kick will be her last tournament
ready for what’s next.” spokesman Chris Widma- The younger Williams was butt and be proud of it all.” but does not say so explic-
That she would be publicly ier said the organization armed with as effective a The American has won itly.
contemplating the end would “will be operating serve as there’s ever been, more Grand Slam singles “I’m not looking for some
of her playing days is not under the assumption that powerful forehands and titles in the professional era ceremonial, final on-court
all that surprising to any- this will be Serena Williams’ backhands, instincts and than any other woman moment,” Williams wrote.
one, given her age her 10 last U.S. Open.” speed that allowed her to or man. Only one player, “I’m terrible at goodbyes,
Grand Slam titles after turn- It is the year’s final Grand cover every inch of a court Margaret Court, collected the world’s worst.”q