Serena Williams announces she is on 'countdown' to retirement

American great hints at concluding iconic career at US Open that starts later this month

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  (FILES) In this file photo taken on June 21, 2022 US player Serena Williams reacts as she plays with Tunisia's Ons Jabeur against Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo and Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova during their round of 8 women's doubles tennis match , on day three, of the Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England. - Serena Williams announced on August 9, 2022 the countdown to her retirement had begun from tennis after a career which brought her 23 Grand Slam singles titles. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

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  Serena Williams has hinted at retiring after the US Open, which starts this month. AFP

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  Serena Williams poses with her trophy after defeating Russia's Maria Sharapova in the 2013 French Open final. AP

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  FILE - Serena Williams holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday, July 11, 2015. Williams won 6-4, 6-4. Serena Williams says she is ready to step away from tennis after winning 23 Grand Slam titles, turning her focus to having another child and her business interests. “I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give,” Williams wrote in an essay released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by Vogue magazine. (AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

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  Serena Williams rests between games during her match against Lucie Safarova at the Sony Ericsson Open in 2007. Reuters

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  Serena Williams after defeating Victoria Azarenka at the 2012 US Open final. AP

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  Serena Williams holds her trophy after defeating her sister Venus in the women's singles final of the 2017 Australian Open. AP

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  Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams to win the 2009 Wimbledon title. AFP

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  Serena Williams will retire as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, male or female. AFP

US great Serena Williams announced on Tuesday that "the countdown has begun" to her retirement from tennis.

"There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction," the 23-time Grand Slam winner said in a post on Instagram.

"That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun.

"I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I'm gonna relish these next few weeks."

On Monday, Williams played only her second singles match since she returned to action at Wimbledon in June after a year-long absence from competition, beating Spain's Nuria Parrizas Diaz to reach the second round of the Toronto Open.

But the 40-year-old said after that match that she could see the light at the end of the tunnel before suggesting the US Open starting this month could be her swansong.

"I have never liked the word retirement," Williams wrote in a Vogue article on Tuesday. "It doesn't feel like a modern word to me. Maybe the best word to describe what I'm up to is evolution. I'm here to tell you that I'm evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.

"A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family."

Williams won her last Grand Slam in 2017 and has been chasing an elusive 24th crown that would draw her level with Margaret Court, who holds the record for most majors. She came close to achieving that feat, featuring in four major finals since giving birth to daughter Olympia in 2017.

Explaining her decision to move away from the sport, Williams said she didn’t want to choose between her career and having more children, but at nearly 41 “something had to give”.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” Williams said. “If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity.”

Williams announced herself on the big stage by winning the 1999 US Open, a tournament she would go on to claim five more times.

In a storied career during which she dominated rivals like no other athlete, she also claimed seven Australian Open titles, three French Open titles and seven Wimbledon crowns.

She also owns 14 women's Grand Slam doubles titles with older sister Venus and has won four Olympic gold medals: singles (2012), and doubles (2000, 2008, 2012).