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Serena Williams played her last official match at the US Open on 3 September 2022, and she said goodbye to the tennis world in the fantastic setting of the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The American legend stopped in the third round of the last Grand Slam of 2022, losing in three sets against one of the best versions of Ajla Tomljanovic.
"Even if it's something I've never thought about. I was just a girl trying to play tennis," Serena Williams explained in tears at the end of the match against the Australian. She then added: "It's been an incredible week, it's like all the people want to push me further I've been growing, finding my game, I should have started playing a little earlier this year." In an exclusive interview with CBS Mornings, Serena Williams is back to talk about her retirement, saying how it was hard.
Serena Williams talks about retirement
The US legend told: "I just feel that, to me, withdrawal is such a big word for someone my age. It's not something I feel is good for me, I've never been able to stay in certain patterns, I've always tried to get out of them, so even the concept of retreat is not something I can accept with serenity.
Actually I wasn't happy at all after the match against Tomljanovic. I was there to keep going and to keep winning. I thought: I can't believe I let that match go.Right now I am allowing myself to be tired, to relax and to be alone at times.
It's harder than I ever imagined. I've never allowed myself to do anything like this before. I'm definitely evolving, but it all feels so different when you retire." On a possible surprise return to the WTA Tour, Serena Williams finally added: "It's hard to say.
I would say no, at least not at the moment. I gave my whole life to tennis. And now it's time to dedicate myself to something else".