The question of whether Serena Williams quit playing tennis has been asked for many years. It’s a question that has been asked by tennis fans, as well as journalists, since she first entered the professional tennis circuit in 1995. Serena Williams is one of the most successful tennis players of all time, having won numerous Grand Slam tournaments, as well as multiple Olympic medals. But despite her success, she has also faced her fair share of controversy, so it’s understandable why some people would wonder if she has ever quit playing tennis.
Serena’s Early Tennis Career
Serena Williams started playing tennis at a very young age, and quickly rose to the top of the professional game. She won her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open and followed it up with a win at the 2002 French Open. By the time she was 23, she had won four Grand Slam titles. This marked the beginning of her domination of the sport, as she would go on to win a total of 23 Grand Slam titles over the course of her career.
Serena’s Break from Tennis
In 2016, Serena took a break from the game in order to focus on starting a family. She gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017 and returned to the court later that year. However, the break was longer than expected, as she was struggling with postpartum depression and a difficult pregnancy.
Serena’s Return to Tennis
After a year-long break, Serena returned to the court in 2018. She had a successful return, reaching the finals of the 2018 US Open and the finals of the 2019 Australian Open. She has also continued to be competitive in Grand Slam tournaments, as she reached the semi-finals of the 2019 French Open and the quarter-finals of the 2019 Wimbledon.
Serena’s Controversial Outbursts
During her return to the game, Serena has been involved in several controversial outbursts. She was involved in a heated argument with an umpire during the 2018 US Open final and was fined for her outburst. She has also been involved in other incidents with umpires, including an incident at the 2019 US Open, where she was docked a point for smashing her racket.
Serena’s Injury Struggles
In addition to her controversies, Serena has also faced injury struggles during her return to the game. She was forced to withdraw from the 2019 French Open due to a knee injury, and she was also forced to withdraw from the 2019 US Open due to an Achilles injury.
Serena’s Recent Struggles
Despite her successes on the court, Serena has struggled to win tournaments since her return. She has not won a Grand Slam title since the 2017 Australian Open, and she has not won a WTA tournament since the 2018 Rogers Cup. This is a marked contrast to her success in the past, when she was winning multiple Grand Slam titles each year.
Serena’s Retirement
Despite her recent struggles, Serena has not officially retired from the game. However, she has hinted at retirement in recent interviews. In 2019, she said that she was not sure if she would retire at the end of the season, and in 2020, she said that she was considering retirement.
Serena’s Legacy
Regardless of whether Serena retires or not, she will always be remembered as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She has won 23 Grand Slam titles, 4 Olympic medals, and over 900 career matches. She has also been a vocal advocate for gender equality in tennis, and she has used her platform to empower young female athletes.
Conclusion
The answer to the question of whether Serena Williams quit playing tennis is still unclear. She has taken a break from the game, but has not officially retired. What is clear is that she has left a lasting legacy on the sport, and she will continue to be remembered as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.