Serena Williams explains why she retired when she was still going strong and healthy

Serena Williams has opened up about why she chose to retire despite being healthy and good enough to have continued for a while.

The 41-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best female athletes of all time across sports. Williams has won an Open Era record 23 Grand Slam singles titles and countless other accolades and milestones, cementing her place as one of the best ever to have wielded a tennis racquet.

Having arrived on tour in the late 90s, Williams won Grand Slam matches in four different decades, beating multiple generations of world-class players. However, with injuries taking a toll and Williams keeping herself busy in ventures off the court, she knew it was time to retire despite being in good health. She called time on her illustrious career at the 2022 US Open, where she made the third round.

In an exclusive interaction with E!, Williams revealed that she can still play at a pretty high level, to the point that she herself thinks she can continue on the WTA Tour for a while. At the same time, the American had no regrets about calling time on her career when she did, noting that she had always wanted to walk away from the sport when she was still healthy and thriving.

"Actually, I did play the other day, and it's just like, 'There's no way I shouldn't be playing professional tennis. Like, there's literally no excuse. But I mean, I guess there is an excuse, right?

"It's hard because when I'm playing, I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm pretty good at this. I can continue to do this,' which not a lot of people can say. I also wanted to walk away when I'm healthy and have a quality of life."

With 858 career singles wins, 58 singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, Serena Williams had a career that transcended the sport.

---

"I don't want it to be over, but at the same time I'm ready for what's next" - Serena Williams

Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open - Day 5

Serena Williams wants to focus on her venture capital firm Serena Ventures and is also desirous of expanding her family, having birthed her first daughter Olympia in 2017.

Having spent more than two decades in the sport, which she dominated for large swathes, Williams admitted that she was 'torn' about calling it a day. Nevertheless, she was also excited about what lies ahead, telling E!:

"I don't want it to be over, but at the same time I'm ready for what's next. I for sure feel more at peace now. It's interesting. I think I feel torn because I'm still able to play at a very, very, very high level."

She continued:

"With that being said, I always wanted to leave the game playing at a very high level. But it's hard because it's like, 'Oh my gosh, I could still play, and I could still do all that stuff.'....But I'm inch by inch leaning away, inch by inch embracing it."

"Inch by Inch" is the Super Bowl commercial Serena Williams stars in, where she gives an inspiring speech of "teaming up for excellence" and pursuing greatness with baby steps.