'A Tennis Era Is About to End': Social Media Reacts to Serena Williams's Retirement
The greatest tennis player of all time is saying goodbye to the game. On Tuesday, Serena Williams's personal essay in Vogue published, announcing her retirement after this upcoming U.S. Open. “It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine,” Williams wrote. “I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”
Williams credits her time in sports coming to an end due to her desire for wanting to expand her family with her husband, Alexis Ohanian. The couple have one daughter and are eager to have another child. Williams is 41.
"In the last year, Alexis and I have been trying to have another child, and we recently got some information from my doctor that put my mind at ease and made me feel that whenever we’re ready, we can add to our family." Williams continued. "I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out."
Williams's final tournament, the U.S. Open, which she's conquered six times, begins on Monday, Aug. 29.
Williams holds 39 Grand Slam titles, 23 single titles, 14 double titles, and two mixed double titles, which is more than any other man or woman has won in the open era. Williams is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist.
Despite this day and announcement being inevitable, social media was still covered in shock, awe, and touching tributes.
Serena Williams makes it official. She’s evolving from tennis. She doesn’t like the word retirement but her time on the court is nearing its end. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/pqlq1uf2CE
— Stephanie. (@qsteph) August 9, 2022
Serena Williams top 5 best athletes to ever do it. Across all sports.
— HOOD VOGUE is tired of poverty (@keyon) August 9, 2022
Serena Williams won the Australian Open while two months pregnant. The GOAT conversation was over the moment she did that.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️⚧️🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) August 9, 2022
Serena Williams is the greatest athlete of all time. The greatest.
— Preston Mitchum, he/him (@PrestonMitchum) August 9, 2022
The pending retirement of Serena Williams fills me up with a myriad of emotions and feelings that I’ll try my best to explain. It was late mid-late 1998. I was at my uncle’s house in Croydon and the US Open was on. And I saw her.
— Hoochie Wally Wally (@ChimGAT) August 9, 2022
In honor of Serena Williams announcing her retirement, please enjoy this lovely video of her singing with her daughter. pic.twitter.com/CHFZbUZg1D
— Alexis Benveniste (@apbenven) August 9, 2022
Serena Williams says she is retiring from tennis.
"I have never liked the word retirement...[ ]...Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me."
End of an era.— James Gray is on holiday again (@jamesgraysport) August 9, 2022
Serena Williams announced her retirement… We don’t give a damn what y’all got going on right now https://t.co/K4vcmopF4W
— Zasquiat (@MoneyBaggYerrrr) August 10, 2022
Roger Federer and Serena Williams are likely to retire in the same year.
They have shared the stage for 24 years, winning 176 official combined titles, of which 43 are singles' Grand Slams.
A tennis era is about to end and we will be forever grateful to them.
🐐 pic.twitter.com/0ss5nENAY1— Relevant | Tennis Stats & Info (@RelevantTennis) August 9, 2022
You Might Also Like