When Serena Williams retired from tennis in 2022, she was faced with a decision many women could empathise with: family or career.
It was a decision she never wanted to make. Had Serena been born a man, this challenge would never have come to fruition. But when her daughter Olympia whispered her dreams of having a baby sister and turning 41 years old, Serena made the incredibly difficult decision to step away from tennis.
“But I’ve been reluctant to admit to myself or anyone else that I have to move on from playing tennis,” she confessed in her Vogue essay. “It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads.
“I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”
Tennis is in Serena’s DNA. She began playing tennis at just three years old in Compton, California. With her father Richard Williams as coach, she began competing at four years old.
In 1995, Serena’s legacy as a powerful tennis player began when she made her professional debut at the Bell Challenge in Quebec City.
In her essay, Serena reflected on the many other impeccable players who retired, like Australia’s own Ashleigh Barty who “was number one in the world when she left the sport.” As just 25-years-old, Ash retired just two months after winning the Australian Open.
Following the announcement that shocked even those with no interest in tennis, Serena and her husband Alexis Ohanian welcomed their second daughter, Adira River in August 2023.
But it wasn’t a retirement. Serena considered it an “evolution” as she moved towards other important things.
Because the 23-time grand slam singles champion and 14 major doubles titles returned in 2026.
After four years away from the sport, Serena accepted a wildcard invitation to play doubles at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament in London.
“Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” Serena said in a statement.
“Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”
Her time away didn’t deminish her skills either. Playing with world number nine, Victoria Mboko on the grass-court, the pair beat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6, 6-2.
“It was so much fun, it felt so natural playing with Vicky,” Serena said on court. “I guess I’ve got nothing better to do, I’m tired of sitting at home, my kids are out of school this summer, so why not?”
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