Serena Williams says the end of her remarkable career is in sight
AP
Serena Williams earns first win of season in Toronto
Christopher Katsarov - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball during a match with Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, of Spain, during the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Christopher Katsarov - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball during a match with Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, of Spain, during the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Serena Williams earns first win of season in Toronto
Christopher Katsarov - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball during a match with Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, of Spain, during the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Christopher Katsarov - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball during a match with Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, of Spain, during the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Serena Williams earns first win of season in Toronto
Cole Burston - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Sloane Stephens, left, of the United States, returns a ball to Sofia Kenin, also of the United States, during women's match action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Cole Burston - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Sloane Stephens, left, of the United States, returns a ball to Sofia Kenin, also of the United States, during women's match action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Serena Williams earns first win of season in Toronto
Cole Burston - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a ball to Storm Sanders, of Australia, during women's match action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Cole Burston - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a ball to Storm Sanders, of Australia, during women's match action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Serena Williams earns first win of season in Toronto
Cole Burston - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Storm Sanders, of Australia, reacts to a point against Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during women's match action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Cole Burston - foreign subscriber, The Canadian Press
Storm Sanders, of Australia, reacts to a point against Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during women's match action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams says she is ready to step away from tennis after winning 23 Grand Slam titles, turning her focus to having another child and her business interests.
“I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give,” Williams wrote in an essay released Tuesday by Vogue magazine.
Williams said she does not like the word retirement and prefers to think of this stage of her life as “evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
While Williams says the end of her remarkable career is in sight, she’s enjoying her time and staying in the moment.
Williams is playing this week in Toronto, at a hard-court tournament that leads into the U.S. Open, the year’s last Grand Slam event, which begins in New York on Aug. 29.
“I’m getting closer to the light. Lately, that’s been it, I can’t wait to get to that light,” she said, adding the light represents “freedom.”
“I love playing though, it’s amazing,” she added. “I can’t do this forever, so sometimes you just want to try your best to enjoy the moments and do the best that you can.”
The American has won more Grand Slam singles titles in the professional era than any other woman or man. Only one player, Margaret Court, collected more, 24, although she won a portion of hers in the amateur era.
