‘I’m terrible at goodbyes:’ Tennis legend Serena Williams announces plans to retire
Posted August 9, 2022 8:30 am.
Last Updated August 9, 2022 11:54 am.
Tennis legend and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams says she will soon be calling it quits.
In Vogue’s September Issue, the tennis legend says she is prepared to say farewell to the sport following the U.S. Open in September.
“I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst,” pens Williams in the article. “But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words.”
“You have carried me to so many wins and so many trophies. I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis. And I’m going to miss you.”
A must read. https://t.co/NSWDGHzsXK
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 9, 2022
Williams turns 41 in September and will go down as one of the most dominant competitors in the history of tennis. She has won more Grand Slam singles titles in the professional era than any other tennis player, woman or man.
She earned her first win of the season in Toronto on Monday, defeating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz in the opening round of the National Bank Open.
“I’m just happy to get a win. It’s been a very long time, I forgot what that felt like,” she said.
It’s just the second tournament of the season for Williams, who made her return to competition at Wimbledon just over a month ago.
Before then, she last competed at the 2021 Wimbledon tournament, where she was forced to retire in the middle of her opening round match due to a torn hamstring suffered after slipping on the grass surface.
“I feel good, I felt like I competed well today. I think that’s what I needed to do, is just compete,” she said following the match on Monday. “Mentally, I’m getting there. I’m not where I normally am (or) where I want to be. Any match I play, whether I win or lose, helps me.
The tournament in Toronto leads into the U.S. Open, the year’s last Grand Slam event, which begins in New York on Aug. 29.
With files from The Canadian Press
