The 23-time Grand Slam champion is now championing new business ventures while being a mom of two

Serena Williams is adjusting to life after tennis.

The mother of two — who famously shared that she was “evolving away” from the sport following her appearance at the US Open in September 2022, but never officially retired — said Thursday that being away from the game “hasn’t been easy.”

“It was all good when I was pregnant and now that I’m not anymore I’m like, ‘Ohhh I miss it so much!’ “ the 23-time Grand Slam champion said on Today with Hoda & Jenna.

After giving birth to her second daughter with husband Alexis Ohanian last August, the 42-year-old athlete has had time to contemplate her next move off the court, and has kept busy as a venture capitalist, investing in new companies.

But tennis remains her “first love,” she revealed.

“I’m doing so many things with different businesses,” Williams said. “But tennis obviously was my first love and it will always be my first love and it is something I will always be so passionate about.”

She added, “I will never love anything as much as tennis, ’cause it’s like, you’re in the front of the world and you don’t even realize it because there’s so much pressure and there’s so much stress. But you’re walking out on center court every day and they’re there to see you. And there’s no adrenaline like that.”

Another aspect to the game which the tennis icon looks back on fondly is its fashion.

“Everybody misses you,” Kotb told her, in part regarding Williams’ iconic outfits on the court.

“I miss me too!” Williams replied. “I miss the outfits I’m like, ‘Oh man. I want to wear these skirts again!’ But yeah, it’s not easy, I’m going to be honest. I’m not going to sit here and be, ‘Oh, it’s easy.’ No, it’s hard as, I don’t know how. But I still train and I still love it and I still get around and I still have fun.”

And while Williams has influenced a generation of young girls in tennis, her reach has also extended across sports.

After she was told that LSU star Angel Reese referred to her as a “guiding light,” Williams lit up.

“Yeah, well, seeing that was obviously really amazing,” she said. “First of all, I watched her [in the Elite Eight] and I loved her outfit, that was the first thing I saw. I was like, ‘Oh, I had an outfit like that too!’ ”

She added, “It’s super-exciting to hear that and just inspire women in general and inspire this whole group of amazing, beautiful athletes that can look beautiful on their field, on the court and on the everything, and still be fierce. That’s what I was always about — how I can look beautiful and still be fierce at the same time.”

Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, is now venturing into new business opportunities while balancing the responsibilities of being a mother of two. Despite hinting at stepping away from tennis after the US Open in September 2022, Williams has not officially retired from the sport. She recently expressed how challenging it has been to be away from the game, especially now that she has given birth to her second daughter.

Since welcoming her second child last August, Williams has had the time to reflect on her future off the court. While she has been busy investing in new companies as a venture capitalist, tennis still holds a special place in her heart. She emphasized that tennis will always be her first love and she remains deeply passionate about the sport.

Williams also fondly reminisced about the adrenaline and pressure of walking out onto center court, acknowledging that nothing compares to that feeling. The tennis icon also misses the fashion aspect of the game, particularly her iconic outfits that garnered attention on the court.

When discussing her impact on young athletes, Williams was thrilled to hear that she has been a guiding light for players like LSU star Angel Reese. She is proud to inspire women both on and off the court, emphasizing the importance of being fierce and beautiful simultaneously.

Despite the challenges of being away from tennis, Williams continues to train and stay connected to the sport she loves. Her influence extends beyond tennis, showcasing her ability to empower and inspire athletes across different sports.

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Source: New York Post