Declaring the US Open as her final tournament is something Serena Williams has chosen not to do.
Match against Danka Kovinic could have been her last singles game, but it looks like she will continue to play.
Earlier this month, the 40-year-old expressed that she was ‘evolving away’ from tennis, and it was anticipated that the US Open would mark her retirement from the sport.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has stated that she intends to remain ‘vague’ about her retirement plans.
When asked if the US Open will definitively be her final tournament after her first-round victory, Williams replied with a knowing smile: ‘Yeah, I’ve been pretty vague about it, right?’
She added: ‘I’m going to stay vague because you never know.’
In an earlier Vogue interview, Williams indicated her readiness to move away from tennis and focus on family and her business activities. However, she refrained from confirming that the US Open would mark her retirement.
During a career celebration on Monday night, Williams expressed her gratitude to the ‘crazy’ Arthur Ashe crowd and hinted at her future retirement without giving a clear timeframe for her transition away from the sport.
Reflecting on her decision, she said: ‘It’s been such a hard decision. I think when you’re passionate about something and you love something so much, it’s always hard to walk away. Sometimes it gets harder to walk away than not. I’ve been trying to decide what to do for a while. I do [still love this game]. I also love it because it keeps you fit, which is a bonus.’
‘I was like, “Alright, I think now’s the time”. I have a family. There’s other chapters in life, I call it an evolution.
‘I have my company, Serena Ventures. Like I said, we invest in a lot of people, women, women of color, and men as well. I really wanted to spend more time at home and work on my spiritual life. It’s like Serena 2.0. I’m still going to be intense… I’ll still be around.’
Explaining her anticipation of transitioning away from tennis, she stated, ‘I look forward to waking up and being like, “I don’t have to run to the court today.” I’m looking forward to being a good mom. She’s such a good girl.’
‘I’m just me, I’m just Serena. I feel like I just blend in with the crowd sometimes. I feel like I do.
‘Just keep coming out and supporting me as long as I’m here. Just know that I love you so much and I’m so excited to be here!’
When asked about her legacy, Williams emphasized the importance of giving one’s all, no matter the obstacles faced, and encouraged people to be inspired by her journey from Compton, California.
Williams delighted the Arthur Ashe crowd by defeating Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 in exactly 100 minutes.