American tennis superstar, Serena Williams has announced her retirement from the sport after the US Open.
The 40-year-old said: “I love playing, though… but, you know, I can’t do this forever. Sometimes you just want to try your best to enjoy the moments, and do the best that you can.”
Serena Williams, in an emotional statement, said: “I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give. I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me.
“I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution.”
She continued: “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me. I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually, it’s extraordinary.
“But I’ve been reluctant to admit to myself or anyone else that I have to move on from playing tennis. Alexis, my husband, and I have hardly talked about it; it’s like a taboo topic. I can’t even have this conversation with my mom and dad. It’s like it’s not real until you say it out loud. It comes up, I get an uncomfortable lump in my throat, and I start to cry. The only person I’ve really gone there with is my therapist!”
