Serena Williams Hasn't Taken a Break Since Her Last Tennis Match: 'I Needed to Keep Going'

Mar. 15, 2025

Serena Williamsmay have thought she would have more free time afterfinishing her last match at the US Open this year— but she hasn’t slowed down since.Williams, whose decades-long tennis career ended with a third-round loss in the 2022 US Open, appeared on Friday’s episode ofPEOPLE Every Dayto chat about retired life, as well as her new fragrance collaboration with Lincoln Motor Company.In the episode, Williams, 41, told host Janine Rubenstein that after her final match, she “was working literally the next day,” and that taking time off would have been more challenging for her due to the emotions aroundwhat might have been her retirement from the sport.“I will take a break eventually,” she said. “But I needed to keep going ‘cause I just needed to not think.“Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/GettyWilliams, who began playing the sport at age 5, explained that “if you do something for your entire life, your whole journey and your whole life is this one thing and it’s done, then it could be a very abrupt stop … I just didn’t wanna do that.“The Olympic gold medal winner said she now just wants to “continue to do things that I’m super passionate about” outside of tennis, but she will slow down eventually.“I feel like one day I’m gonna stop and, you know, just reflect and just think about the memories.” she said. “But I just haven’t done that yet.“In the episode, Williams also reflected onbeing the first guest on longtime friend Meghan Markle’sArchetypespodcast in August, saying that it was “obvious” she would want to appear on the show.The athlete said that her conversation with Meghan “wasn’t like work at all” because they are “really good friends.““I felt like it was a great conversation,” she said. “We always have such great conversations.“Serena Williams InstagramNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.So could podcasting being among the next projects fans could expect from Williams? “That would be interesting,” she said, laughing, “but I can’t say that you could.“PEOPLE Every Daycan be streamed daily on multiple platforms includingiHeartMedia,Apple podcasts,Spotify,Stitcher,Amazon Music.

Serena Williamsmay have thought she would have more free time afterfinishing her last match at the US Open this year— but she hasn’t slowed down since.

Williams, whose decades-long tennis career ended with a third-round loss in the 2022 US Open, appeared on Friday’s episode ofPEOPLE Every Dayto chat about retired life, as well as her new fragrance collaboration with Lincoln Motor Company.

In the episode, Williams, 41, told host Janine Rubenstein that after her final match, she “was working literally the next day,” and that taking time off would have been more challenging for her due to the emotions aroundwhat might have been her retirement from the sport.

“I will take a break eventually,” she said. “But I needed to keep going ‘cause I just needed to not think.”

Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty

Williams, who began playing the sport at age 5, explained that “if you do something for your entire life, your whole journey and your whole life is this one thing and it’s done, then it could be a very abrupt stop … I just didn’t wanna do that.”

The Olympic gold medal winner said she now just wants to “continue to do things that I’m super passionate about” outside of tennis, but she will slow down eventually.

“I feel like one day I’m gonna stop and, you know, just reflect and just think about the memories.” she said. “But I just haven’t done that yet.”

In the episode, Williams also reflected onbeing the first guest on longtime friend Meghan Markle’sArchetypespodcast in August, saying that it was “obvious” she would want to appear on the show.

The athlete said that her conversation with Meghan “wasn’t like work at all” because they are “really good friends.”

“I felt like it was a great conversation,” she said. “We always have such great conversations.”

Serena Williams Instagram

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

So could podcasting being among the next projects fans could expect from Williams? “That would be interesting,” she said, laughing, “but I can’t say that you could.”

PEOPLE Every Daycan be streamed daily on multiple platforms includingiHeartMedia,Apple podcasts,Spotify,Stitcher,Amazon Music.

source: people.com