By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday, June 28, 2022
At 40 years of age, and with 23-major singles titles under her belt, Serena Williams has done everything there is to do in the sport. After her 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) loss to World No.115 Harmony Tan on Tuesday at Wimbledon, she says she may still want to do more.
It isn’t entirely clear what the legend plans to do next.
Will she retire?
“That's a question I can't answer,” she said. “Like, I don't know. I feel like, you know, I don't know. Who knows? Who knows where I'll pop up.”
What was made clear, after Williams lost in the first-round at a major for just the third time in her career, is that the American is entertaining thoughts of hitting the practice courts and playing the US Open.
“It definitely makes me want to hit the practice courts because, you know, when you're playing not bad and you're so close… Like I said, any other opponent probably would have suited my game better,” Williams said. “So, yeah, I feel like that it's actually kind of like, Okay, Serena, you can do this if you want.”
Williams admitted that she would benefit from playing regularly on the tour. Match toughness comes from matches, and Williams knows that to give herself a chance to win another major, she’ll have to play more.
Unlike last year, at least she can leave Wimbledon without a devastating injury.
“Physically I was fine,” she said. “Last couple points I really started to feel it. But I'm moving well, I'm getting a lot of balls back. I'm moving well in practice, as well. That wasn't surprising for me because I knew I was doing that well. I didn't practice for, you know, a three-hour match, so... I guess that's where I went wrong.”
Asked if she might want to play in New York at the US Open, she said this: “Especially in New York, and the US Open, that being the first place I've won a Grand Slam, is something that's always super special. Your first time is always special.
“There's definitely, you know, lots of motivation to get better and to play at home.”