Serena Williams says she “will not be relaxing” after playing what is likely to be her final competitive tennis match, and can now find time for “things that I’ve been wanting to do for so many years”.
The global tennis phenomenon said that her reported “retirement” from the sport was “more of an evolution of Serena” and it was time for her to explore her other passions.
The multi-grand slam winner bowed out of the third-round of the US Open tournament earlier this month after losing in three sets to Ajla Tomljanovic.
“It’s more of an evolution of Serena.”
–@serenawilliams on her retirement from tennis. #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/0eAJt9IsZN
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) September 14, 2022
Speaking about her tennis career on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she said: “I think retirement is something that is super earned and that people work really hard for.
“I feel like I’m at an age where I definitely have a lot more to give and there’s a lot more that I want to do so I’m not going to be relaxing, there’s so much more for me.
“I feel like it’s more of an evolution of Serena.”
“Tom Brady started an amazing trend. That’s what I want to say.”
–@serenawilliams on the future of her tennis career and retirement. #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/BdcvwrwYqr
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) September 14, 2022
She added: “There’s so many things that I’ve been wanting to do for so many years and I’ve had such a passion for tennis for so long that I’ve never done them.
“Now it’s time for me to start to enjoy those things.”
Teased by Fallon about a possible return to her sport, similar to that of NFL legend Tom Brady, she responded: “Tom Brady started an amazing trend. That’s what I want to say.”
Following her US Open exit, scores of famous faces including Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson and Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to the star, describing her as “one of the greatest athletes of all time”.
Alongside her sister Venus, Williams’ career was the subject of the biopic film King Richard, which earned its star Will Smith the best actor Oscar at the 94th Academy Awards.