BLOGGING THE VIEW: Serena Williams to retire in 2022

By absolutely anyone’s standards, Serena Williams is one of tennis’ all-time greats, having broken records and shattering glass ceilings since she hit the professional circuit 27 years ago.

In a recent interview with Vogue magazine, the 40-year-old tennis legend made the announcement that the upcoming US Open will be her final grand slam as she’s decided to retire from the sport this year.

Here’s a look at how she got into and excelled in this illustrious career that began way back in 1995.

1. An early love of the game
From as early as she can remember, tennis has been Serena’s life. While her dad and first coach, Richard Williams said she first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of three, she says her love of the sport came even earlier. There’s even a picture of her being pushed around a tennis court in her pram by Venus when Serena was just 18 months old.

2. She was home-schooled
In an effort to provide them with a solid education while also affording them time for tennis practice, both Venus and Serena were home-schooled by their father.

3. She’s a college graduate
Despite a demanding tennis career, Serena still found time to study another passion of hers – fashion. She attended fashion school at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale from 2000 to 2003. A good business move, considering she started her own clothing line, Serena, in 2018.

4. Serena goes professional
Just a year after sister Venus turned professional, Serena entered the arena – just a month after she turned 14. It would be three years later that she would win her first grand slam title, defeating Martina Hingis in the US Open.

5. Clocking up the wins
This was the beginning of an amazing tennis career, with Serena going on to win 23 grand slam singles – the most in the open era. Playing alongside Venus, she attained 14 grand slam doubles titles – the second highest in history – and two mixed doubles. In 2014/15 she held all four grand slam titles simultaneously. She also holds four Olympic gold medals – three of which are for doubles.

6. She follows a strict diet
Although she relaxes her diet during the off-season, allowing for protein and a few cheat day favourites, Serena follows a primarily vegan diet when she’s training and competing.

7. Family is important
We know the important roles Venus and Serena’s dad has played in their lives, indicating just how important family is. And they have a lot of family! In addition to Venus, Serena has three half-sisters, all of whom are supportive of the tennis star. She’s married to American internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, with whom she has four-year-old daughter Olympia. In fact, it’s Olympia’s wish for a sibling that’s part of the reason Serena is retiring.

8. She can do it all
In addition to conquering the fashion and tennis worlds, Serena is out-performing at motherhood as well. She won the Australian Open in 2017 – when she was two months pregnant! She had a C-section, two pulmonary embolisms and still won a grand slam. Throughout breastfeeding and postpartum depression, she has competed and excelled, showing there really is no excuse.

9. Raking in the cash
Her hard work has paid off – in a big way! Serena’s net worth is an estimated $250-million, making her the richest female athlete and the third-richest tennis player after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. She’s also the only female player to have won over $35-million in prize money.

Don’t miss Serena’s last chance at a grand slam title when she takes to the US Open courts from Monday, 29 August to Sunday, 11 September.

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