Serena Williams has faced some on-the-court challenges since she delivered her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on Sept. 1, 2017.
For example, she had to drop out of the Rogers Cup and the Cincinnati Masters due to a back injury, and despite making it to four Grand Slam finals since giving birth, she hasn’t won a title yet.
But that hasn’t seemed to discourage Williams, and at 38 she said retirement isn’t in her immediate plans.
It’s something she revealed Wednesday during a panel discussion for Advertising Week New York, and reportedly Williams wants to win her 24th Grand Slam title, which would tie a record established by Australian tennis player Margaret Court.
“[I plan to] transfer out, you know, in 20 years,” said Williams about retirement, according to Yahoo. Her words were met with cheers.
Besides getting treatment for her back injury, Williams said she also received therapy since giving birth, and it was after she lost the 2018 U.S. Open to Naomi Osaka.
Williams was hit with violations on that day, after she argued with the umpire’s call and broke her racket. And during the trophy ceremony, the crowd booed Osaka since they seemed to be on Williams’ side.
The mother of one said she sent an apology letter to Osaka, and it took her some time to return to tennis.
“Days passed, and I still couldn’t find peace,” wrote Williams in an essay for Harper’s Bazaar. “I started seeing a therapist. I was searching for answers, and although I felt like I was making progress, I still wasn’t ready to pick up a racket.”
Osaka then responded to Williams and wrote: “People can misunderstand anger for strength because they can’t differentiate between the two,” she wrote. “No one has stood up for themselves the way you have and you need to continue trailblazing.”
