The End of the Serena Era

08/10/2022 The End of the Serena Era

By: Jeff Yoder

Serena Williams Announces Plans to Retire After 2022 U.S. Open

Sports fans have seen a lot of Serena Williams lately. She’s been spotted at awards shows, red carpet events and plenty of celebrity galas. On the tennis court? That’s been more of a rarity. Williams is currently competing in the Canadian Open this week where a massive announcement rocked the sports world on Tuesday. The 40-year-old announced that she’ll retire from tennis following the upcoming 2022 U.S. Open. The announcement was published in a Vogue article on Tuesday.

 

How We Got Here

It was June 26, 2021 when Williams suffered a leg injury at Wimbledon that took her out of tennis for an entire year. She returned to Wimbledon last month, but a first-round upset signaled the beginning of the end. The six-time U.S. Open winner said this year’s trip to Queens will be her final stop… A fitting finish at Flushing Meadows.

 

“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition… 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.” — Serena Williams (Vogue)

 

Serena’s Legacy

There’s no question Williams has been the most impactful female sports figure of a generation over the last 20-plus years. Her accomplishments are staggering, but her larger-than-life persona has breathed life and inspiration into women’s sports since before the turn of the century. Her 23 grand slam titles are the most by any player (men or women) in the open era. She boasts 73 career singles titles and more than $94 million in career winnings. That doesn’t even breach the surface of her off-the-court endorsements and celebrity gravitas.

 

Most Grand Slams (Men & Women)

Serena Williams (23)

Rafael Nadal (22)

Steffi Graf (22)

Novak Djokovic (21)

Roger Federer (20)

 

*Margaret Court has 24 major titles prior to the open era

 

Soon to be 41 years old next month, with injuries stacking and family goals taking precedence, Serena’s final U.S. Open run is near. She began her pro career at age 14, and she’ll step away 27 years later. An epic farewell sendoff will undoubtedly be the storyline later this month in Queens, and the sports world will take one last glimpse of Serena in action. The G.O.A.T. of women’s tennis is about to drop the mic…

 

Additional Storylines

Vogue: Serena Williams Says Farewell to Tennis On Her Own Terms—And In Her Own Words

CBS Sports: Serena Williams Announces Retirement Plans: Tennis Superstar ‘Ready for What’s Next’

NY Times: Serena Williams Leaves Tennis Just As She Played: On Her Own Terms

CNBC: Serena Williams on Retiring: ‘If I Were a Guy, I Wouldn’t Have to Choose Between Tennis and Family’

 

Photo: Glyn Kirk / Getty Images