Serena Williams wants to have a second child after retiring from tennis after the US Open.

The 40-year-old broke the news in an autographed article for Vogue magazine, admitting she “hated” the decision.

“I didn’t like the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me,” Williams wrote.

“I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be cautious about how I use this word to mean something very specific and important to a community of people.

“The best word to describe what I’m trying to do is evolution. I am here to tell you that I am evolving away from tennis and towards other things that are important to me. ”

“For me, there is no happiness on this topic. “This is the hardest thing I can imagine. I hate it. I hate having to be at this crossroads. No. I’m torn, I don’t want it to end, but I’m also ready for the next.”

That includes expanding her family. The topic is brought up regularly by her five-year-old daughter Olympia, who wants to be her big sister.

“Believe me, I never had to choose between tennis and family,” Williams wrote. I wouldn’t have written this because I was playing outside and winning while I was doing manual labor.

Williams revealed last year that she was expecting another child with husband Alexis Ohanian.

“We recently got some information from the doctor. ‘As an athlete, I don’t want to get pregnant again. I need to be two feet in or two feet out of tennis.'”

After winning his first match in over a year at the National Open in Toronto on Monday, Williams confirmed he will play at the US Open at Flushing Meadows at the end of the month. It would be her last Grand Slam tournament.

Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles. This is the most in the Open Era and he is one short of Margaret’s all-time record for the most on his court.

“Unfortunately I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year,” wrote Williams after losing to Harmony Tan in the All England Club first round.

“And I don’t know if I’m ready to win in New York. I know there is fan fantasy that you might have said “See you later!” at the ceremony. understood. It’s a good delusion. But I’m not looking for a ceremonial, final on-court moment. I have a bad goodbye, the worst in the world.

“But please know that I thank you more than I can say. You have led me to many victories and many trophies. That version of me, playing tennis. I miss that girl, and I miss you.

first published as ‘I hate this’: Serena Williams announces retirement, plans to have second child