Selena's lasting legacy – and what happens next
But it's impossible to put into context what Serena did on the court without also reflecting on her extraordinary impact off the court. For most of the mid-2000s, Serena, who had won five of eight majors between 2002 and 2003, wasn't playing enough tennis, winning just two Grand Slams from 2004 to 2007. was often criticized for not doing so.
She explained that she was “enjoying the moonlight outside of tennis.” time magazine That moonlighting included acting, a reality series with Venus, magazine covers, music videos, and more.
While some questioned her off-court schedule as “distracting,” Williams is rewriting her strategy, a move that could benefit her longevity and late-career career that included two Olympic gold medals and 10 major singles titles. It will be further strengthened by success. The age of 30 is the age at which many previous superstars took a break.
Later in his career, Williams tackled a myriad of social issues head-on, including in 2015, when he returned to the WTA 1000 in Indian Wells 14 years after an episode oozing racism that drew boos from a largely white crowd. included.
“I felt like my time was up,” Williams told reporters upon his return, advancing to the semifinals. ”[This] It was a great day for me, for women's tennis, for tennis in general, and for everyone. ”
Williams even sought to change the culture around “retirement” in professional sports, writing: trend In the summer of 2022, she said she was “moving away” from tennis. “I'm here to tell you that I'm stepping away from tennis,” she wrote. “Towards other things that are important to me.”
what are those? So far, this has included being a mother, investing in women- and BIPOC-owned businesses, working with sponsor partners, giving birth to her second daughter Adira in August 2023, and stepping away from tennis. Life is included.
“Tennis is such a big part of my life that I can't imagine not being involved in it,” she said at her final US Open press conference. “I don't know what that involvement will be yet. I think it means a lot to my life and I've had so many great moments that I can't imagine my future without it. .”
“What's my involvement? I have no idea.”
