"I'm playing just for me" - Serena Williams on enjoying tennis

Wednesday, 13 April 2022 at 19:45

Updated at Friday, 01 November 2024 at 22:35

byErik Virostko

Serena Williams has been away from the WTA Tour since the 2021 Wimbledon, and now, she opened up about her life outside of the courts.

The 40-year-old American is still on a quest to win her 24th Grand Slam title, and a lot changed in her life since she became a mom. However, Serena Williams has still not retired, and so once she steps on the court again, she will focus on winning that record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, and that might be already at this year's Wimbledon, as she hinted before.

Recently, the 23-time Grand Slam champion talked to the Insider about her life outside of the tennis courts, admitting that this chapter of her life makes her "happy" for various reasons. It's a completely new experience for her, but one that she really enjoys.

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"This chapter makes me happy because for so many years I've played, and I've loved doing it, but now I'm playing just for me. I compete when and where I want to go, but I don't have to go. So I'm enjoying it in a different way."

In the same interview, Williams also talked about being mother. Her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, will probably have to travel on the WTA Tour with her one day, and the American talked about the importance of setting boundaries between work and personal life.

"Mom guilt is real. I always feel so guilty when I'm doing something on my own. I don't know if I'm a good mom, and I don't know if my method works, but I'm very hands-on with my daughter, and it was the same with our parents. So I've set really good boundaries, but then after work, I'm going right to my daughter. And that's amazing and good, but now it's like, ‘Okay, what happens to Serena?'"