Serena Williams, ranked #1 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association, has walked away from her spotlight after 27 years on the court. Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which is more than any man or woman in the world. Additionally, along with her sister Venus, she won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. The legacy that she leaves behind is an inspirational one for young female athletes across the globe.
She proved that the ability to make a comeback is far from impossible, emphasizing that perseverance and commitment are the most valuable tools that will get you the career you want. Leaving the court was undoubtedly a hard decision. However, in doing this Williams shows yet again that perseverance will always triumph.
Serena left the court to focus on a capital investment company she started back in 2014 called “Serena Ventures.” Williams is a role model not only for young athletes, but for entrepreneurs and women in business. She is the poster girl model for women and girls paving their way through society.
As she takes this time to focus on her business and family, we can still hope that one day she returns to the court, even if it’s just for a quick game. Williams was adamantly against the word “retirement”. She preferred to talk about leaving behind her legacy as part of her evolution in life. In an article published by Vogue magazine, Williams was quoted saying “In my own life, the balance has been slowly shifting toward Serena Ventures. I always say that I’m a sponge: At night I go to bed and I squeeze myself out so that the next day I can take up as much new information as I can.” With every new career step, Williams is learning new things about herself and adding to her future career accomplishments. With every new achievement, she sets a new standard for women and girls around the globe to look up to and follow.
From sports, business and her life as a mother, Williams is overall an inspiration. Her legacy on the court will not be forgotten, and I imagine she will not be leaving the limelight anytime soon as she continues to set on these new ventures.
References
Williams, S. (2022, August 9). Serena Williams’s farewell to tennis-in her own words. Vogue. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.vogue.com/article/serena-williams-retirement-in-her-own-words