Serena Williams explains why she doesn’t like looking back at her tennis career as it makes her ‘sad’

Serena Williams has now been out of the game for over three years, having retired at the 2022 US Open.

Williams played her last match against Ajla Tomljanovic on Arthur Ashe Stadium, losing over three sets to the Australian.

She finished her career with 23 Grand Slam titles, the second most of all time by any man or woman, trailing only Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic, who have both tallied 24.

The former world number one also held the top spot in the WTA rankings for 186 consecutive weeks, the joint-most of all time, along with Steffi Graf.

Despite enjoying one of the most successful careers in tennis history, however, Williams says she doesn’t like to reminisce.

Serena Williams explains why she doesn’t look back on her career

Speaking to CNBC International, when asked what she highlights when looking back on her career, Williams answered: “I don’t look back that much.

“It’s filled with so much nostalgia and honestly, sadness, because I miss it,” said the American legend.

“I just do the awful avoidance technique and just avoid it and just don’t think about it. I don’t want to talk about it, don’t honour me, don’t think about this.

“It just becomes really emotional for me because I still miss it. I don’t want to think about it.”

Serena Williams recalls winning the US Open at 17 years old

On winning the 1999 US Open at just 17 years of age, Williams said: “That’s a good moment! That’s different.

“I like reminiscing on that, because that feels like a lifetime ago and the other stuff still feels like it was within reach.

“When I look at pictures and being able to hold up that trophy that you dream about when you were just a kid, and you are still a kid but you don’t realise at the time.

“You look back and you’re like, I was so young, and you think about being able to hold up that US Open trophy of all Grand Slams to win for the first time, it was kind of iconic, I was able to win that one.

“Wimbledon, obviously, would have been arguably better! I don’t have that experience, so I can’t tell you, but I can ask my sister because her first Grand Slam was Wimbledon.”

Williams’ sister, Venus Williams, is yet to officially retire, but has been inactive since March 2024, when she played her last match at the Miami Open.