Serena Williams admits leaving tennis was a 'difficult' decision and 'not easy' after dedicating life to sport
WTAThursday, 04 April 2024 at 01:00
Former world number one Serena Williams has admitted that it was hard for her to quit tennis to have a second child. The 42-year-old retired from the sport in 2022 September in order to extend her family with husband Alexis Ohanian.
Serena was recently quoted in a report for Byrdie Magazine where she admitted that it was tough leaving the sport where she was still ‘pretty good’.
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“It's definitely not easy,” she said. “I love sports and being active. Leaving something I was still good at to be a mom was such a difficult decision. But I wanted another kid, so I had to do that. Now it's about finding balance and doing other things I've always loved.”
Serena further went on to talk about how she loves fashion and makeup and how playing tennis gave her a unique opportunity to try different styles while playing on the court.
“Showing up [like that] was great for me,” she said. “Tennis is different than other sports. Sprinters and gymnasts, for example, can wear a full face of makeup. With tennis, you can play for three hours and have sweat pouring down your face.
“So I had to find little ways to enhance my features. It started with the beads—that was a way to express myself. From there, I leaned into eyeliner and lipstick.”
“So I had to find little ways to enhance my features. It started with the beads—that was a way to express myself. From there, I leaned into eyeliner and lipstick.”
Serena is often regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of women’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 23 Grand Slam titles in her illustrious career.
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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.
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