Serena Williams' retirement is the closing of an era

In an interview with Vogue, Serena Williams clearly hinted that she is ready to take a step beyond her sporting career, thus ending one of the most winning and exciting adventures that tennis history has to tell. Although she did not want to give explicit references, considering the circumstances and her words, all indications are that the showcase for her farewell may be the U.S. Open - to which she will have access via a wild card - in the setting of Flushing Meadows, at home.

Williams' farewell, it really has to be said, marks the end of an era. Because Serena, with her 23 Slam titles in singles and 14 in doubles alongside her sister Venus, and her 319 weeks at the top of the WTA circuit rankings (186 of which were consecutive), was not only the greatest tennis player of the Open era but, behind the glitter of that impressive trophy case, she also built an immortal legacy off the court and in popular culture. Her approach to challenges--in tennis and in life--and her constant drive to better herself, for many people continue to be a north star and chart the direction to follow.

Born into a humble family, the last of five sisters (a scenario meticulously depicted in the recent film success "King Richard"), she resorted to all her determination to put her talent to good use and change the cards that fate had dealt her in the beginning. Similarly, she reacted forcefully when she struggled with the serious health problems that followed the birth of her daughter Olympia and that, between checkups and operations, kept her bedridden for numerous weeks. In addition, throughout her career, she has always put a great deal of effort into causes geared toward social betterment, expressing her ideas through social media or collaborating with numerous humanitarian organizations, going so far as to create the Serena Williams Fund, which aims to break down the barriers in the world that stand between individuals and the realization of their dreams.

Tennis champion, role model and style icon. All the positive values she has championed have made her the star of magazine pages and covers, commercials, and have launched Serena to the top of the preferences of leading international brands in the fashion, luxury, and lifestyle industries, which have chosen her as one of their leading faces, including Nike, Wilson, Beats by Dre, Aston Martin, Audemars Piguet, Pepsi, and Gatorade. But her impact in the fashion industry does not stop there; in fact, in 2019 she founded-and still owns-her own clothing line called "S by Serena."

Serena Williams, who will turn 41 in September, has made no secret of the pain physiologically associated with this decision, and she wants to go through this additional sliding door in her own way as well, which she sees less as a "retirement" and more as an evolution that can give her the opportunity to devote herself to sides of her life away from tennis, but still very important to her. Above all, that of caring for and expanding her family. And if, as she herself says, being Serena has always been about expecting the best from herself, she will certainly remain a figure of reference for her many fans in this new chapter of her life as well.