For over two decades, Serena Williams was a force of nature on the tennis court, a symbol of power, resilience, and unparalleled athletic dominance. Her retirement from professional tennis in September 2022, after a legendary career that yielded 23 Grand Slam singles titles, marked the end of an era. Yet, as she settles into life beyond the baseline, the champion is discovering that stepping away from the sport that defined her is a complex journey, one where the challenges of retirement are deeply intertwined with the joys and priorities of family life.
The Difficulty of Stepping Away
In numerous interviews and through her own reflections, Williams has been candid about the emotional difficulty of retirement. The transition from a life governed by strict training schedules, global travel, and the intense pressure of competition to a more open-ended existence has not been seamless. "It's been hard," she admitted in a conversation with CNN. "Tennis was such a huge part of my life. It's what I knew since I was three years old." The structure and identity that came with being a professional athlete are things she has had to consciously rebuild in a new context.
This sentiment echoes the experiences of many elite athletes who struggle with a loss of purpose and community after retirement. For Williams, the roar of the crowd, the adrenaline of match point, and the singular focus of a tournament are irreplaceable sensations. She has spoken about missing the competition itself, the process of solving problems on the court, and the unique camaraderie—and rivalry—with her peers. The day-to-day reality of no longer working toward the next major championship has required a significant psychological adjustment.
A Decision Anchored in Family
Williams’s decision to retire was not born of a diminished love for the game, but from a clear-eyed assessment of her personal priorities. In her iconic Vogue cover story announcing her "evolution" away from tennis, she framed the choice as a necessary step to grow her family. "I have never liked the word retirement," she wrote. "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."
Those "other things" are unequivocally centered on her role as a mother and wife. Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have a daughter, Olympia, who was born in 2017. Williams has been vocal about her desire to give Olympia a sibling, a goal that clashed directly with the physical demands and risks of continuing a top-level tennis career, especially given her well-documented health struggles after childbirth. The choice, in essence, was between expanding her family and chasing a 24th Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court’s record.
She chose family. "Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family," she wrote in Vogue. "I don't think it's fair. 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 growing our family." This poignant statement highlights the unique biological and career crossroads female athletes often face.
The Joys and Realities of Motherhood
Today, Williams’s life is filled with the beautiful, chaotic normalcy of parenting. She shares glimpses of this world on social media: teaching Olympia to play tennis, enjoying family vacations, and navigating the everyday adventures of raising a strong-willed young girl. However, she is also refreshingly honest about the less-glamorous side. She has discussed the mental load of motherhood, the constant planning, and the challenge of maintaining her own identity outside of being "mom" and "tennis legend."
Her family did indeed expand, welcoming a second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August 2023. This new chapter has brought immense joy but also reinforced the all-consuming nature of parenting two young children. Williams has described this period as both fulfilling and exhausting, a balancing act that leaves little room for nostalgia about her former life on tour. Her priorities are now dictated by nap times, school runs, and the needs of her growing family—a stark contrast to the life of a globe-trotting athlete.
Building a New Legacy Off the Court
Retirement for Serena Williams does not mean inactivity. She is channeling her formidable drive and business acumen into her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures. The firm, which she founded in 2014, focuses on investing in companies founded by women and people of color—groups historically underrepresented in venture funding. To date, Serena Ventures has invested in over 60 companies, and Williams takes an active, hands-on role.
This work provides a new sense of purpose and allows her to build a legacy of empowerment beyond sports. "I always say, I'm a student of something," she told People magazine. "I'm a student of business now. I'm a student of being a mom. I'm a student of being a wife." This mindset of continuous learning and growth is how she is reframing her post-tennis identity.
Furthermore, Williams remains connected to tennis in meaningful, selective ways. She has attended major tournaments as a spectator, cheered on fellow players, and even played in a few exhibition matches. This allows her to engage with the sport on her own terms, free from the pressure of rankings and titles. She has also expressed interest in mentoring the next generation of players, potentially offering guidance drawn from her unparalleled experience.
The Ongoing Evolution
Serena Williams’s journey through retirement is a powerful narrative about redefinition. It is a story that acknowledges the difficulty of leaving behind a world you mastered while embracing the messy, rewarding challenge of building a new one. Her honesty about the struggle provides a relatable counterpoint to the myth of the effortlessly retired champion. The key pillars of her current life can be summarized as:
- Family First: The conscious decision to prioritize expanding and nurturing her family with Alexis Ohanian.
- Business Pursuits: Leading Serena Ventures to champion diversity and innovation in the startup ecosystem.
- Selective Tennis Engagement: Maintaining a connection to the sport as a fan, icon, and potential mentor, but on her own schedule.
- Personal Growth: Embracing the identity of a lifelong "student" in motherhood, business, and life beyond the court.
In the end, Serena Williams is navigating retirement not as an end, but as her promised evolution. The discipline, passion, and grace that defined her tennis career are now being applied to the court of family life and business. While she may find aspects of the transition "difficult," her path forward is guided by the same clarity and intention that once directed her serves and volleys. She is writing a new chapter where Grand Slam trophies share space with baby bottles and board meetings, proving that a champion’s spirit can find victory in many forms.