Serena Williams dominated the sport of tennis for two decades, but currently retiring from the sport altogether. Williams intends to evolve from tennis into a new life path, including a focus on her venture capital business and expanding her family. During this time, Williams plans to fulfill her daughter’s, Olympia Williams, wishes by making her daughter an older sister. 

“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me. A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family,” Serena Williams said.  

During Williams’ successful career she won 73 career singles titles, 23 doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles. This includes 39 Grand Slam titles – 23 singles titles, 14 doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles. The four-time Olympic gold medalist also won over $94.5 million in career prize money, more than any other female athlete. She became the first African American woman to win a grand slam singles title in the open era.   Williams, prevailing in the sport of tennis through longevity while catering to her child,  inspires thousands of people.

On August 29, Williams won the first match of her last U.S open. Williams defeated Danka Kovinic 6-3 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows in New York City; the same location of Williams’ first U.S. Open win in 1999 when she was 17. 

“The impact that she’s had on the game of tennis is not an easy thing that we can quantify. She not only gave back to the game but she also opened up the game to a whole world of people. The game of tennis went from being the primary white person’s game to any person of color is able to do it and then as a mother. Being able to see her comeback and be successful in the longevity of your career has been inspirational for anybody who watched her play,” English teacher Andrea Drake said.