Serena Williams ‘staying vague’ over retirement plans
After making it to the second round of the US Open on Monday, Serena Williams stated that she is "keeping ambiguous" regarding her anticipated retirement from tennis.
"You must think I've been very hazy about it. I'm going to keep it ambiguous because you never know," the 40-year-old remarked following his 6-3, 6-3 victory over Danka Kovinic.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams declared earlier this month that she was "developing away" from tennis and that her 27-year career as a pro was coming to an end.
Prior to Monday, the former world number one had only one victory on the tour this year, dropping to position 605.
That kind of form prompted her to reveal that she was on the brink of retirement and hinting that this US Open would be her farewell.
However, the guessing game over her concrete plans for the future continued Monday with mixed messages delivered on court and then in her post-match news conference.
“It was such a hard decision,” Williams told her on-court interviewer when asked about her original announcement revealed in a essay for Vogue magazine.
“I think when you are passionate about something it is always hard to walk away,” she said.
“I have been trying to decide what to do. I love this game.
She added: “I think now’s the time. I have a family and there’s other chapters in life. I call it evolution.”
“It’s like Serena 2.0. I will still be crazy, I’ll still be intense. I’ll still be around. But I look forward to waking up and not having to run onto a tennis court.”
On Monday, Williams, who arrived on court in a diamond-encrusted black dress and jacket that sparkled under the lights, overcame a nervy first game for a hold of serve.
The American star brought the crowd to their feet with a break for 2-0, chasing down a net cord to hit a winner.
Kovinic, the world number 80, has enjoyed a solid year at the Slams, reaching the third round of the Australian and French Opens.
The 27-year-old hit back with a break of her own and edged ahead for 3-2.
However, Williams buried the error count — she served up six double faults in the opener — levelled and then raced away with the next three games to take the first set.
Another break for 3-2 arrived in the second set on the back of crunching drives from the back of the court.
A love service game gave the American a 5-3 lead and a final break of the night gave her victory.
She celebrated with a little jig on the baseline and a broad smile, much to the delight of a crowd which included the likes of tennis legend Martina Navratilova, ex-world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and former US president Bill Clinton.
The crowd held up cards to spell out “Serena, we love you”.
Next up for Williams is second round clash against No.2 seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia on Wednesday.