Serena Williams spoke in an interview about how much she misses tennis. The legendary American also discussed setting new goals to satisfy her competitive instincts.
Over two years have passed since Williams bid farewell to tennis at the 2022 US Open. Watching such an iconic figure say goodbye in front of her adoring home fans in New York was one of the most emotional moments in tennis history.
Rafael Nadal also got to say goodbye in front of home supporters at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. His retirement ceremony was held after Team Spain's quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands, and many inside the arena were in tears.
However, a difference between Williams and Nadal is that some criticized the latter's retirement ceremony for not giving him a fitting enough tribute. Carlos Moya was particularly critical, calling it shabby.
Although Williams' final moments as a professional player were memorable and fitting, it has not stopped the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion from missing the sport in which she had so much success.
The seven-time Wimbledon winner has not entirely ruled out a tennis return in the past, but that seems unlikely. Serena is now 43 years old, although her older sister, Venus Williams, is not officially retired despite being 44.
In an interview with People Magazine, Williams opened up about her fitness routine since retiring and the goal she has set for herself to cope with missing tennis like crazy since retiring in 2022.
"I've gotten obsessed, more obsessed with diet and exercise, I think, than when I was playing tennis. I knew that I was going to burn 20,000 calories a day, and now I'm like, 'Oh my god, I don't know how many calories I'm going to be able to burn!'."
"Look at me. I'm trying to compete — not compete, rephrase — trying to do a half-marathon. That's my new goal. So it's just like I have to do something competitive. I miss tennis like crazy."
Williams described having to make different choices with her life as a woman than a man would and how she tries to stay healthy despite being at home and around her kids at home so often.
"But as a woman, I had to make different choices that I probably wouldn't have had to make if I were a guy, but that's okay, I love that. I love that I chose my family and I want to be around them every single day of my life."
"And I try to do that, and I just figure I want to be the GOAT at something else. And for me, that's being a mom right now. “The more that I don't play sports professionally, the more that I think, ‘Okay, this is what I've done for literally my entire life, and how do I optimize and keep it up?’"
"As a mom, my main goal is to be healthy for my kids and I have young kids and I need to be able to run for them and be able to do all that stuff."
Fans are unlikely ever to see Williams return to professional tennis, but she sounds content with her family life and continuing to set new fitness goals outside of tennis.
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