Serena Williams announces retirement from tennis

American tennis star, Serena Williams, has confirmed she will be retiring after the US Open.

Williams revealed this in an emotional statement on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old said: “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.

“But I’ve been reluctant to admit to myself or anyone else that I have to move on from playing tennis. Alexis, my husband, and I have hardly talked about it; it’s like a taboo topic.

“I can’t even have this conversation with my mom and dad. It’s like it’s not real until you say it out loud. It comes up, I get an uncomfortable lump in my throat, and I start to cry. The only person I’ve really gone there with is my therapist!”