"I can't believe I let that match go" - Serena Williams expresses regret over ending her career with loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at 2022 US Open

Serena Williams announced her decision to retire from tennis in August last year, stating that the 2022 US Open would be the final tournament of her illustrious career. While the 23-time singles Grand Slam winner is standing firm with her decision, she recently revealed her mixed emotions about the decision in an interview with CBS.

Unbothered by the lack of matches under her belt, Serena Williams started her 2022 US Open campaign with victories over Danka Kovinic and then World No. 2 Anett Kontaveit. The 41-year-old, however, lost to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in a third-round clash that exceeded three hours.

Williams did not go down without a fight, and saved as many as five match points in an effort to turn the tide. The American legend has now confessed that she felt low after ending her career in such a way, expressing that she wished to keep winning.

In a conversation with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, Williams revealed that she was upset about “letting the match go.”

“I was actually not very happy at all. Just because of the result. I was there to keep going and to keep winning,” Williams said. “And yeah, it was more or less like, ‘I can’t believe I let that match go’ more than anything, you know."

The 41-year old also wondered aloud how she could have changed the outcome of the match.

“Obviously, it was a great moment and a great memory and I’ve never felt – I don’t feel like I’ve left anything, but I just felt like, ‘What could I have done better that day?’” she added.

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"We need people like me" - Serena Williams on her investment venture

Serena Williams was also interviewed by Gayle King at 2022 US Open

While Serena Williams might be disappointed with how her 2022 US Open run concluded, her numerous achievements speak for themselves.

Taking leave from tennis with a win percentage of 84.6%, the American is not very acquainted with failure. However, “winning” now holds a different meaning for the athlete-turned-businesswoman.

Williams, who founded venture capital firm “Serena Ventures” in 2014, has now shifted her focus to helping out budding businesses and investing in people of diverse cultures.

“Winning to me is just pick out the best deals to invest in, you know. We need people like me. We need women writing the checks, cause I really am a big believer in like attracts like,” Williams told Gayle King in the interview for CBS Mornings.