Ricky Dimon
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The illustrious tennis career of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams is finally coming to end.
Playing this week at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Williams announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Open – which begins on August 29 – will be her last tournament. The 40-year-old is just now returning from a knee injury that had kept her on the sidelines since Wimbledon last summer. However, it is family life rather than physical issues that is the primary reason for her calling it quits.
“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 labor of expanding our family,” Williams wrote in an essay for Vogue. “Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity. Don’t get me wrong: I love being a woman, and I loved every second of being pregnant with Olympia… but I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give.
“Now the countdown has begun,” Williams added, emphasizing that she plans to “relish these next few weeks.”
Serena Williams’ U.S. Open odds
Williams is one major short of Margaret Court (24) for the all-time record, which she can tie next month in New York. But she has been stuck on 23 since winning the 2017 Australian, so capturing No. 24 after a full year away from the game seems farfetched.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year,” said Williams, whose return came at the All-England Club a little more than a month ago and resulted in a first-round loss. “And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try. And the lead-up tournaments will be fun.”
The American is +1600 at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the U.S. Open, which has her tied as the eighth favorite along with Bianca Andreescu and Paula Badosa. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is a +250 favorite.
Williams is a six-time champion at Flushing Meadows, most recently prevailing in 2014. She first won it in 1999, marking her maiden Grand Slam title as a 17-year-old. Since getting to the 23 five seasons ago, Williams has been to four slam finals – losing two at the U.S. Open and two at Wimbledon.
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