Serena Williams says 'countdown' to retirement has begun

US tennis great Serena Williams announced on Tuesday that "the countdown has begun" to her retirement from the sport.

„There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I'm gonna relish these next few weeks" the 40-year-old, 23-time Grand Slam winner said in a post on Instagram.

Williams won the last of her 23 Slams at the 2017 Australian Open when she was already pregnant with her daughter, Olympia. However, she has failed to add a 24th major which would take her level with Margaret Court's all-time record. Her final attempt will come at the US Open in New York later this month.

Belarus star Azarenka out of Toronto WTA event after visa issues

Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday in the WTA Toronto tournament where fought through to the second round with a straight sets victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz. The former world number one had played her first singles match in a year during a first round defeat at Wimbledon in June. The opening match took two hours, with the veteran winning a 25-minute game to level 4-4 in the second set. She then served out for victory as she plays the event for a 10th time.

Williams earned her first title in Canada in 2001 and her third and most recent nine years ago. She defeated Diaz with seven aces and saved seven of the eight break points she faced. Williams last played in Toronto in 2019, when she had to retire injured after four games to hand over the final to local Bianca Andreescu.

© Agence France-Presse