Tennis legend Serena Williams announced Tuesday that she will soon hang up her racket.

What You Need To Know

  • Serena Williams announced in an article for Vogue that she will "evolve away from tennis" from tennis after the upcoming U.S. Open

  • Williams, who has won more Grand Slam titles (23) in the professional era than any other woman or man, is one of the most accomplished and talented athletes in the history of the sport

  • Williams and her older sister Venus Williams were coached in tennis from a young age by their parents, Oracene "Brandy" Price and Richard Williams

  • In addition to her singles success, Serena and Venus Williams were a formidable doubles pair, winning 14 major doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles

The iconic athlete wrote in an article for Vogue that she will "evolve away from tennis" after the U.S. Open, which runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, "toward other things that are important to me."

"I have never liked the word retirement," Williams, who turns 41 next month, wrote. "It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people."

"Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution," she continued. "I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me."

Williams, who has won more Grand Slam titles (23) in the professional era than any other woman or man, is one of the most accomplished and talented athletes in the history of the sport. She wrote that it will be hard to walk away from the game she loves.

"That time is always hard when you love something so much," Williams wrote. "My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I'm gonna relish these next few weeks."

Williams and her older sister Venus Williams were coached in tennis from a young age by their parents, Oracene "Brandy" Price and Richard Williams. A formidable doubles pair, the Williams sisters won 14 major doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles at the 2000, 2008 and 2012 games. Combined with their fourth gold medal in singles (Venus Williams in 2000, Serena Williams in 2012), they jointly hold a record four Olympic gold medals.

Williams said that she will try to win at the upcoming U.S. Open, but admitted she's not sure she will be ready. Her last Grand Slam title came in 2017 at the Australian Open while pregnant with daughter Olympia; she recently competed at Wimbledon in June and lost in the first round.

"Unfortunately I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year," she wrote. "And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York. But I’m going to try."

She acknowledged the "fan fantasy" of tying Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles; Court has 24, but she won some of her titles in the amateur era.

"I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, “See ya!” I get that," she said. "It’s a good fantasy."

"But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment," Williams continued. "I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst. But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words."

You have carried me to so many wins and so many trophies," she added. "I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis. And I’m going to miss you."

Williams is playing this week in Toronto, at a hard-court tournament that leads into the U.S. Open. A victory Monday in Toronto was Williams’ first tour win in a singles match in more than a year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.