Introduction
Serena Williams is one of the most accomplished tennis players in the history of the sport. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. She has also been ranked number one in the world eight times and held the record for the most weeks at number one for a female player. But how old was Serena when she stopped playing tennis?
Serena’s Early Life
Serena Jameka Williams was born on September 26th, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan. Her parents, Richard and Oracene, were both professional tennis players. Serena started playing tennis at the age of four and she quickly showed an immense amount of potential. She and her sister, Venus, would practice together and compete against each other.
Serena’s Professional Career
Serena turned professional in 1995 at the age of fourteen. She won her first singles title in 1999 at the Open Gaz de France tournament. She then went on to win her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in 1999. From then on, Serena began to dominate the tennis world. She won multiple Grand Slam titles and held the number one ranking for multiple years.
Serena’s Injury Struggles
Throughout her career, Serena had to battle several injuries. In 2010, she suffered a pulmonary embolism which caused her to miss several tournaments. In 2011, she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome and she had to pull out of the US Open due to the illness. She also suffered from shoulder and foot injuries in 2014 that caused her to miss several tournaments.
Serena’s Comeback
Despite her injury struggles, Serena made a remarkable comeback in 2017. She won the Australian Open that year and became the oldest female Grand Slam champion in the Open era. She also won the French Open and Wimbledon that year. She then went on to win the Australian Open again in 2018 and 2019.
Serena’s Retirement
Serena announced her retirement from professional tennis in 2020 at the age of 38. She stated that she was no longer able to compete with the same level of intensity that was required of her. She also said that her body was no longer able to handle the rigors of a professional tennis schedule.
Reasons for Retirement
There are several reasons why Serena decided to retire from professional tennis. First, she has achieved everything she could in her career and she no longer feels the need to compete. Second, she wants to focus on her family and spend more time with her daughter. Third, she wants to focus on her other business endeavors.
Impact of Retirement
Serena’s retirement has had a major impact on the tennis world. She was one of the most dominant players in the history of the sport and her retirement has left a void. Her retirement also means that there is no clear favorite to win the major tournaments in the future.
How Old Was Serena When She Stopped Playing Tennis?
Serena Williams stopped playing professional tennis in 2020 at the age of 38. She was one of the most accomplished players in the history of the sport and she will be remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Conclusion
Serena Williams is one of the most iconic athletes in the history of the sport. Her retirement in 2020 at the age of 38 marked the end of an incredible career. She was one of the most dominant players in the history of the sport and her retirement has left a void in the tennis world.
Serena will always be remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time and her legacy will live on for years to come. She has accomplished everything she could in her career and she will be remembered as one of the most influential athletes of all time.