Serena Williams sent social media into a frenzy after sharing a video that seemingly hinted at a return to the court. The former World No. 1 ignited speculation and excitement among fans with a crisp, no-nonsense message.
What Serena Williams Has Been Up To Since Hanging Up Her Racquet
Williams last competed professionally at the 2022 US Open, where she bowed out in an emotional third-round defeat to Ajla Tomljanović. Just a few weeks prior, in an August 2022 Vogue essay, she announced her decision to “evolve away from tennis,” citing her desire to grow her family and focus on business ventures, particularly her investment firm Serena Ventures.
Since stepping away from competition, Williams has maintained a strong public presence. She’s embraced motherhood for the second time, welcoming her daughter Adira River Ohanian in August 2023 with her husband and Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian.
Alongside family life, Williams has been busy expanding her investment firm, Serena Ventures, which focuses on backing women and minority-led startups.
In the video, dressed in sleek athletic wear, Williams could be seen back in her element, gliding across the hard court while performing her signature drills, set against the backdrop of Dr. Dre’s hit “Still D.R.E.”
“Still Serena,” Williams captioned the video.
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Williams Explained Why Walking Away From Tennis Was So Difficult
Williams reiterated that she retired to focus on starting a family, calling it one of the toughest choices she’s made. In a July 2024 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she clarified it wasn’t due to fitness issues but personal priorities.
“I love watching it. I love playing it. I love being a part of it. I’m still really good at it. [Laughs.] I always say the reason I stopped was not because of injury. It was because I wanted to have a family,” Williams said.
Despite feeling she could still compete at a high level, she admitted to missing the sport more than most.
“And that was a very hard decision to have to make when you know you can still play and perform at a very high level, and then have to say no [to that part of yourself], because you want to have a future and leave a mark. I think if I didn’t have that, maybe I wouldn’t miss it as much, but because of the way I had to depart, maybe I do miss a little bit more than the average person,” she added.
MORE: Serena Williams Shows Her Dedication to Fitness in New Gym Selfies
