2022 US Open was the last tournament where Serena Williams competed and according to her own words, it was the last tournament of her career as she's "evolving away from tennis".
The 23-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed her farewell at this year's last Grand Slam tournament, but it seems that she may play at least one more major event in her career. Serena Williams still misses the record-equalling 24th major and it seems that she really wants to win it.
When asked if it was her last match in the Flushing Meadows, she answered: "(I) don't know (if it was my last match)," said Serena Williams, hinting that she may return at the 2023 Australian Open: "I'm not thinking about that. I always did love Australia, though (smiling). But yeah, you know what, I've come a long way since last year at Wimbledon."
Now, she talked to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show and once again, Serena Williams hinted that it may not be over for her in terms of a professional tennis career.
"I think retirement is something that is super-earned that people work really hard for. I'm at an age where I definitely have more to give and there is a lot more that I want to do," Serena Williams said.
"I'm not gonna be relaxing, there is so much for me. I feel it’s more of an evolution of Serena and there are so many things that I have been wanting to do for so many years. I have such a passion for tennis for so long that I've never done it. But now it's time for me to like start to enjoy those things," she added.
When asked if there's a chance of her "pulling a Tom Brady" (American football player who came back from retirement only 40 days after announcing it), the 23-time Grand Slam champion answered:
"Tom Brady started an amazing trend. That’s what I want to say,” said Williams.