The date: September 3, 2022. The scene: a vibrant Arthur Ashe Stadium, pulsating with Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best.” In a poignant farewell after losing to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the 2022 US Open, Serena Williams, with a final signature twirl and tearful gratitude, echoed: “Thank you, Daddy, I know you’re watching. Thanks, Mom. Thank you, everyone that’s here, that’s been on my side—so many years, literally decades.” Serena has since embraced the worlds of entrepreneurship and motherhood to two daughters, building brands like S by Serena and WYN Beauty. However, a revelation nearly three years later unveils a persistent yearning for the familiar thrill of center court.
It’s been exactly 957 days since Serena Williams last graced a professional tennis court. It was Friday night when she battled through a gripping 3-set clash against Ajla Tomljanović at the US Open. In a match that stretched over three hours, Serena gave it her all before eventually falling 7-6, 6-7, 6-1. That moment marked not just the end of a match, but the closing chapter of a legendary career that began back in 1995 when a 14-year-old Serena made her professional debut.
Just 4 years later, she captured her first GS at the US Open in 1999, an event she would win five more times. Her final major victory came in 2017 at the AO while she was two months pregnant, a feat that cemented her status as an icon of strength and perseverance.
Throughout the twilight of her career, Serena’s pursuit of a record-tying 24th GS title kept fans and fellow athletes on the edge of their seats. Stars like Tiger Woods, her husband Alexis Ohanian, and daughter Olympia filled the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium to witness history unfold on her last day at the office.
Honored as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People on April 16th, Serena Williams sat down for an insightful interview with senior correspondent Sean Gregory, who posed the question: did she still long for the 27-foot tennis court?
Serena admitted she does, sharing, “I miss it a lot, with all my heart. I miss it because I’m healthy. If I couldn’t walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn’t miss it as much. I think I’m healthy because I didn’t overplay,” revealing a quiet victory within.
Prior to her final professional tennis match, Serena Williams shared with TIME that her decision to step away was partly driven by a desire to fully embrace motherhood. “I think I’m good at it,” she stated then, “But I want to explore if I can be great at it.”
Nearly three years later, when asked about her progress, Williams, who gave birth to Adira less than a year after hanging up her racquet, confidently declared, “I’m a wonderful mom. I think we, as women, don’t give ourselves credit, but I’m a great mom. I really am. I do everything. I’m freaking the room mom at Olympia’s school this year.”
Off the court, Serena’s entrepreneurial journey is thriving. She recently celebrated the 1-year anniversary of her brainchild, WYN Beauty. But balancing motherhood and business isn’t comes with a “cost”.
Serena Williams opened up the cost of balancing entrepreneurial life and being a mother of two
Serena Williams has never shied away from revealing the emotional layers behind her powerhouse persona. In November 2024, she admitted, “I am obsessed with my children. I spend all day with them,” a heartfelt confession that echoed her deep devotion to motherhood. That same year, she also ventured further into entrepreneurship, launching ‘WYN Beauty’ in partnership with the ‘Good Glamm Group’.
On April 11th this year, Serena marked the first anniversary of WYN Beauty with a pop-up celebration in collaboration with Shopify. While her brand soared, she revealed to “People Magazine” that the cost of success goes far beyond money.
“Yeah, it definitely costs a lot. I’m here [in California] without my kids, and that’s a big cost for me because I spend a lot of time with my children, and they’re very attached to me, which a part of me loves. So, it’s always some cost.”
Her words reflected a quiet ache many mothers know well: being present for everyone often means being absent from someone. Isn’t it? The same applied to her tennis career.
Serena added, “If I wanna win a championship, well, what is that going to cost me? It’s going to cost me time with my family, it’s going to cost me friends, it’s going to cost me relationships. And they’re very expensive. You have to decide if it’s worth it for you.”
For decades, the American GOAT traded precious personal moments for greatness on the court. Now, as a devoted mother and thriving entrepreneur, the weight of those sacrifices feels deeper than ever. Yet behind the legacy and glowing brand, a fire still flickers somewhere. Don’t we all long to hear one final, thunderous “Come on!”?
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