Serena Williams has hinted that she may soon retire from tennis, after winning her first singles match in over a year.
The 40 year old man defeated world number 57 Nuria Parrizas Diaz in straight sets at the National Bank Open in Toronto, her first singles victory since the French Open in 2021.
She was kicked out of Wimbledon last month in the first round by Harmony Tan, a match that saw her return to the singles court for over a year.
Williams has been coy about her future plans since returning, but when asked in Canada about her motivation to keep playing, she replied: “I guess there’s just a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I don’t know, I’m getting closer to the light. Lately that’s been everything for me. I can’t wait to get to that light.”
When asked what the light represented, she replied, “Freedom. I love acting, so it’s amazing.
“But I can’t do this forever. So sometimes you just want to do your best to enjoy the moments and do the best you can.”
Williams hopes to regain some form in Toronto ahead of the US Open later this month.
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“I was happy to have won,” she said.
“It’s been a very long time. I forgot what it felt like.
“I felt like I competed well, and I think that’s what I had to do, just compete.
“Mentally I feel like I’m getting there. I’m not where I normally am and I’m not where I want to be. But I think every game I play, win or lose, that helps me get there.
“Physically, I feel a lot better in training, it’s just to bring that to the court.
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“But literally, I’m the kind of person that all it takes is one or two things and then it clicks. So I just wait for it to click.”
Venus Williams, 42, was unable to win her first singles match since Wimbledon in 2021 losing 6-2 6-3 to Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina defeated Marie Bouzkova in straight sets, while ninth seed Emma Raducanu will make her Toronto debut on Thursday against Italy’s Camila Giorgi.
