Washington: The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and one of greatest tennis players, Serena Williams, has dropped a hint about her retirement saying ‘”the countdown has begun”.Taking to Instagram, Williams said: “There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.”The American made her singles return at Wimbledon in June after a long injury lay-off that had led to speculation about her retirement. She says she will play at the US Open, where she has won six of her major singles titles, later this month.
Williams won her last Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open when she was eight weeks’ pregnant with daughter Olympia.
Williams had her first singles win in 14 months on Monday as she defeated Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz at the National Bank Open in Toronto and entered the second round.
She has won more major singles title than any female player in the Open era and the second most of all time, behind Margaret Court’s 24.
The tennis ace, who turns 41 next month, has 73 career singles titles, 23 career doubles titles to her name.
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