Williams eyes retirement and looks forward to the “light at the end of the tunnel”

Serena Williams picked up her first win in over a year and quickly hinted at retirement following the victory

Guardar
Aug 8, 2022; Toronto, ON, Canada;  Serena Williams (USA) serves against Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) in first round play in the National Bank Open at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2022; Toronto, ON, Canada; Serena Williams (USA) serves against Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) in first round play in the National Bank Open at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Serena Williams is one of the greatest tennis players to ever walk across the court, but her playing days may be numbered. After winning 23 Grand Slam titles, she has made a name for herself not likely to be matched. It appears as though she is now recognizing that, as well, and at 40-years-old is staring down the lens of retirement.

Most recently, Williams played in the National Bank Open in Toronto and captured her first singles win in well over a year. She had taken almost a year off after Wimbledon 2021 and was very slowly returning to form making people wonder if she could ever get there.

The 407th ranked Williams was met by the 57th ranked Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain in the first round which Williams won 6-3, 6-4, but the win wasn’t what delivered the biggest shock value; it was the words Williams spoke following the match.

“I guess there’s just a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know, I’m getting closer to the light. Lately that’s been it for me. I can’t wait to get to that light.”

And what does that light represent for Williams? “Freedom. I love playing though, so it’s amazing. But 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.”

Aug 8, 2022; Toronto, ON, Canada;  Serena Williams (USA) reacts after defeating Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) in first round play in the National Bank Open at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2022; Toronto, ON, Canada; Serena Williams (USA) reacts after defeating Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) in first round play in the National Bank Open at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

It has been quite some time since Williams walked away with a win; dating back to the French Open in 2021 to be exact. In June, she lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Harmony Tan dashing hope from fans she would pick up her record-tying 24th Grand Slam title.

“I was happy to have a win,” she said. “It’s been a very long time. I forgot what it felt like.”

Following Wimbledon, Williams brushed off questions about retirement stating she was “motivated” to play in the U.S. Open.

“The U.S. Open was the place where I won my first Slam, it’s super-special. There’s definitely a lot of motivation to get better and play at home,” Williams had said.

With the U.S. Open only three weeks away, were Williams comments following her match a way to set up her retirement on U.S. soil? While no announcements have been officially made, signs are beginning to point to a farewell in New York.

Guardar

Últimas Noticias

Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons

Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons

Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024

She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024

Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris

Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris

Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years

The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years

Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”

The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”