• Serena Williams reacts after beating Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open first round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, on August 29, 2022. AFP
    Serena Williams reacts after beating Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open first round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, on August 29, 2022. AFP
  • Serena Williams hits to Danka Kovinic on day one of the 2022 US Open. Reuters
    Serena Williams hits to Danka Kovinic on day one of the 2022 US Open. Reuters
  • Serena Williams is greeted by her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr following her victory against Danka Kovinic. AFP
    Serena Williams is greeted by her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr following her victory against Danka Kovinic. AFP
  • Serena Williams poses for a photo with family and friends following her victory against Danka Kovinic at the US Open. Getty Images
    Serena Williams poses for a photo with family and friends following her victory against Danka Kovinic at the US Open. Getty Images
  • Serena Williams is greeted by her husband Alexis Ohanian. AFP
    Serena Williams is greeted by her husband Alexis Ohanian. AFP
  • Serena Williams speaks with Gayle King during a ceremony honoring her career after her match against Danka Kovinic on day one of the 2022 US Open. Reuters
    Serena Williams speaks with Gayle King during a ceremony honoring her career after her match against Danka Kovinic on day one of the 2022 US Open. Reuters
  • Anna Wintour watches a tribute to Serena Williams after she defeated Danka Kovinic during their first round match. EPA
    Anna Wintour watches a tribute to Serena Williams after she defeated Danka Kovinic during their first round match. EPA
  • Actor Hugh Jackman was part of the more than 23,000 fans on Arthur Ashe Court to watch Serena Williams at the US Open. EPA
    Actor Hugh Jackman was part of the more than 23,000 fans on Arthur Ashe Court to watch Serena Williams at the US Open. EPA
  • Singer Gladys Knight watches a tribute to Serena Williams. EPA
    Singer Gladys Knight watches a tribute to Serena Williams. EPA
  • Serena Williams of the United States celebrates against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. AFP
    Serena Williams of the United States celebrates against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. AFP
  • Actress Queen Latifah watches from the stands during the match between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinic. Reuters
    Actress Queen Latifah watches from the stands during the match between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinic. Reuters
  • Serena Williams signs autographs. AFP
    Serena Williams signs autographs. AFP
  • Serena Williams of the United States signs autographs. AFP
    Serena Williams of the United States signs autographs. AFP
  • Serena Williams returns a shot Danka Kovinic at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. AFP
    Serena Williams returns a shot Danka Kovinic at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. AFP
  • Serena Williams of the United States celebrates against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. AFP
    Serena Williams of the United States celebrates against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. AFP
  • Model Bella Hadid poses for a selfie with a fan during a changeover in the match between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinic. Reuters
    Model Bella Hadid poses for a selfie with a fan during a changeover in the match between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinic. Reuters
  • Designer Vera Wang, left, watches from the stands. Reuters
    Designer Vera Wang, left, watches from the stands. Reuters
  • Serena Williams waves to the crowd after her match against Danka Kovinic. Reuters
    Serena Williams waves to the crowd after her match against Danka Kovinic. Reuters
  • Actreess Rebel Wilson kisses girlfriend Ramona Agruma while sitting in a box with Lindsey Vonn and boyfriend Diego Osorio. Reuters
    Actreess Rebel Wilson kisses girlfriend Ramona Agruma while sitting in a box with Lindsey Vonn and boyfriend Diego Osorio. Reuters
  • A fan reacts after Serena Williams wins her first round match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. Reuters
    A fan reacts after Serena Williams wins her first round match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. Reuters
  • Billie Jean King speaks after Serena Williams of the United States beat Danka Kovinic of Montenegro at the US Open. Getty Images
    Billie Jean King speaks after Serena Williams of the United States beat Danka Kovinic of Montenegro at the US Open. Getty Images
  • Serena Williams shakes hands with Danka Kovinic after their first-round match. Reuters
    Serena Williams shakes hands with Danka Kovinic after their first-round match. Reuters
  • Serena Williams reaches for a forehand. Reuters
    Serena Williams reaches for a forehand. Reuters
  • Serena Williams greets former US tennis player Billie Jean King during a tribute after Williams' match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open. AFP
    Serena Williams greets former US tennis player Billie Jean King during a tribute after Williams' match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open. AFP
  • US player Serena Williams reacts during a tribute in her honor after defeating Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. AFP
    US player Serena Williams reacts during a tribute in her honor after defeating Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. AFP
  • Serena Williams shoes bearing her initials. Reuters
    Serena Williams shoes bearing her initials. Reuters
  • Serena Williams in action during her first round match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. Reuters
    Serena Williams in action during her first round match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. Reuters
  • Serena Williams plays a shot. Reuters
    Serena Williams plays a shot. Reuters
  • Serena Williams of the USA after beating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. Reuters
    Serena Williams of the USA after beating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. Reuters

Serena Williams 'not retired' and says her chances of playing again 'are very high'


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Serena Williams has seemingly walked back on her decision to retire from tennis, saying that the chances of her returning are "very high".

The American, 41, had previously indicated that she would step away from the sport after last month's US Open.

"I am not retired," Williams said at a conference in San Francisco while promoting her investment company, Serena Ventures.

"The chances [of a return] are very high. You can come to my house, I have a court."

Williams wrote in a Vogue article in August she was "evolving away from tennis" but with the caveat that she had never "liked the word retirement".

And while she did not confirm the US Open as her farewell event, she was given lavish tributes before each match in New York and waved an emotional goodbye after losing in the third round.

  • Serena Williams waves to the crowd after losing to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Friday night, September 2, 2022. EPA
    Serena Williams waves to the crowd after losing to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Friday night, September 2, 2022. EPA
  • USA's Serena Williams shakes hands with Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia at the US Open in New York. EPA
    USA's Serena Williams shakes hands with Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia at the US Open in New York. EPA
  • USA's Serena Williams gets emotional in a post-match interview after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic. AFP
    USA's Serena Williams gets emotional in a post-match interview after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic. AFP
  • Serena Williams hits a return to Ajla Tomljanovic. AFP
    Serena Williams hits a return to Ajla Tomljanovic. AFP
  • Fans cheer Serena Williams. AFP
    Fans cheer Serena Williams. AFP
  • Serena Williams reacts after a point during her third round match against Ajla Tomljanovic. AFP
    Serena Williams reacts after a point during her third round match against Ajla Tomljanovic. AFP
  • Serena Williams hugs Ajla Tomlijanovic after the match. AFP
    Serena Williams hugs Ajla Tomlijanovic after the match. AFP
  • Serena Williams react after losing a point on Friday night. EPA
    Serena Williams react after losing a point on Friday night. EPA
  • Serena Williams after her defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic. EPA
    Serena Williams after her defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic. EPA

The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who took the tennis world by storm as a teenager and is considered by many the greatest of all time, said not preparing for a tournament after the US Open did not feel natural to her.

"I still haven't really thought about [retirement]," Williams said.

"But I did wake up the other day and go on the court and [considered] for the first time in my life that I'm not playing for a competition, and it felt really weird.

"It was like the first day of the rest of my life and I'm enjoying it, but I'm still trying to find that balance."

Updated: October 25, 2022, 9:40 AM