Former world number one America’s legendary tennis star Serena
Williams has admitted the struggles she had after leaving the sport.
The 42-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in
the history of women’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 23
Grand Slam titles in her career.
Serena retired from the sport back in September 2022 in
order to extend her family with her husband Alexis Ohanian.
Williams was recently quoted in a report where she admitted that
she misses playing tennis which according to her will always be ‘first love’.
“It was all good when I was pregnant and now that I’m not
anymore I’m like, ‘Ohhh I miss it so much!’,” she said. “I’m doing so many
things with different businesses.
"But tennis obviously was my first love and it
will always be my first love and it is something I will always be so passionate
about. I will never love anything as much as tennis, 'cause it’s
like, you’re in the front of the world and you don’t even realize it because
there’s so much pressure and there’s so much stress.
"But you’re walking out on
center court every day and they’re there to see you. And there’s no adrenaline
like that.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.