Serena Williams is currently competing in what might be her final tournament as a professional tennis player. She won her first match at the US Open on Monday and will compete again on Wednesday.
During a recent interview with TIME Magazine, the 40-year-old tennis legend revealed that when she told her 4-year-old daughter Olympia that she was retiring, her response was, “Yes!”
Serena wasn’t exactly shocked by the reaction, but admits it was hard to hear. “That kind of makes me sad. And brings anxiety to my heart,” she admitted.
You see, as a four-year-old who just wants her mom and dad, we’re sure Olympia views tennis as something that’s getting in the way of family time. She doesn’t understand how important tennis is for her mother, which is completely understandable.
Serena also revealed Olympia really wants a baby sister.
[She] says this a lot, even when she knows I’m listening. Sometimes before bed, she prays to Jehovah to bring her a baby sister. (She doesn’t want anything to do with a boy!) I’m the youngest of five sisters myself, and my sisters are my heroes, so this has felt like a moment I need to listen very carefully to. I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.
Sounds like Serena was kinda forced to choose between building a family or continuing her tennis career, and she has chosen her family. I think that’s a wise decision.
After all, Serena doesn’t have anything left to prove on the court. She’s one of the best to ever play the sport. She’s broken all kinds of records and dominated the sport for years. No one will ever question her greatness.
Now it’s time for her to take on a new challenge… raising kids in this crazy world. I think it may prove to be more difficult than tennis.
