Newsman: Serena Williams 40,, the owner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, is retiring from tennis after this summer’s U.S. Open. She announced her plan Tuesday on Vogue magazine’s website.
Sand attributed the decision to the competing urges of wanting another child while also facing off with the world’s best tennis players.
“I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis,” Williams said, adding a message to her fans: “And I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give,” Williams said, apparently referring to the print magazine’s publishing date in September.
Williams’ 23 Grand Slam singles titles is an Open Era record for women or men. The only tennis athlete with more major singles titles is Australia’s Margaret Court — whose record of 24 titles has withstood an inspired assault from Williams in recent years.
When play in the U.S. Open’s main draw begins on Aug. 29, Williams will have a protected ranking of No. 16. The tournament runs for much of the following two weeks. She was just 17 when she won her first Grand Slam singles title, at the U.S. Open in 1999.
“I started playing tennis with the goal of winning the U.S. Open,” she said. “I didn’t think past that. And then I just kept winning.”
