Serena Williams’ name is synonymous with tennis. For the past two decades, Serena was the reigning champion and absolutely dominated her games. When Serena decided to hang up her racket, the former World No.1 had won 23 Grand Slam titles. It was the most by any player, at the time of her retirement.
Widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, Williams retired in 2022. In an essay for Vogue, the tennis sensation’s main reason for retirement was “to expand my family.” Williams never explicitly said she was retiring, in her own words, Serena was ready to “evolve away” from the sport.
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It is not uncommon for women to retire or put their careers on hold due to parenthood. Serena definitely is not the first athlete to do it. She wrote in her essay, “I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and family,” she wrote. “I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy I wouldn’t be writing this.”
Always striving to break the glass ceiling in her career, Serena won the Australian Open in 2017, when she was 2 months pregnant with her first child Olympia. She returned to tennis the following year and even made it to the Wimbledon final.
Williams played for a number of years after giving birth. While the expansion of her family may have been the driving force behind her decision, there may have been other contributing factors too. Serena had to contend with injuries all her life, and at 40 years of age, she was past her prime.
Is Serena Williams hinting at a comeback?
The tennis star recently created a bit of a stir online with her tweet. She recalled an encounter with a fan who was of the opinion that she had retired early. Her older sister Venus Williams is still playing at the age of 43, proving age is only a number.
I was at a book store the other day and someone came up to me and said I retired too early…
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 14, 2023
Her cryptic tweet left fans scratching their heads, wondering if there is a hidden meaning to her tweet or if the former world champion is hinting at making a comeback to the tennis court.
Come back to the court please 🙏🏽
— Louisa Nicola (@louisanicola_) July 14, 2023
You did.
The comeback is still awaited.— Maryam مريـم (@iKlimt) July 14, 2023
Is that your way of saying you’ll be back?
— тσмαя ™💭 (@tommiee05) July 14, 2023
Nobody plays tennis like Serena Williams..Stay healthy, have your baby, rest enjoy and come back to the game..😊🎾🙏
— Gerseygal (@MandyGerseygal) July 14, 2023
Tennis is boring without you. We miss you. 😣
— KingRomeo (@RomeosWisdom) July 14, 2023
While her tweet may have left fans asking for her to come back to court, time will tell whether she really does. At the moment, Serena is expecting her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian. However, it would be in line with her character to return for that last shot at glory, shattering the glass ceiling one last time.