Serena Williams marked the first day of kindergarten for her daughter, Olympia, Monday as tennis star continued her journey away from tennis.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner began her ‘evolution’ away from tennis earlier this month as she brought the curtain down on a stunning career after third-round defeat to Alja Tomljanovic at the US Open.
The 40-year-old provided a glimpse into her post-court life as a ‘#stayathomemom’.
The American star took to Twitter on Monday morning to announce it was the first day of kindergarten for her five-year-old daughter Olympia.
Williams posted: ‘Ok first day of kindergarten… #stayathomemom #workingmom.’
When she announced she was stepping away from the sport in an interview with Vogue last month, Williams revealed she was looking to make more time for ‘other things that are important to me.’
Serena Williams revealed it was the first day of Kindergarten for her daughter, Olympia (right)
The 23-time Grand Slam winner took to Twitter to break the news on Monday morning
Williams announced she was stepping away from tennis to focus on family (pictured right her husband Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian)
On the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she claimed she should have retired a decade ago
Those ‘other things,’ she explained, are business and family.
For starters, Williams, who will turn 41 later this month, not only wants to spend more time with her husband, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, and Olympia, but she is hoping for another child.
‘In the last year, Alexis and I have been trying to have another child, and we recently got some information from my doctor that put my mind at ease and made me feel that whenever we’re ready, we can add to our family,’ Williams wrote.
‘I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.’
The star announced her imminent retirement in an interview last month, in part, because she wants to spend more time with daughter Olympia (right)
William is pictured with Olympia during a Fed Cup qualifying tennis match in February, 2020
Alexis Ohanian, Olympia and Williams at the King Richard premiere last November in LA
Alexis Ohanian, left, and Serena Williams arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. The couple is now hoping to have a second child together
Last week, she admitted, albeit with tongue-firmly-in-cheek, that her retirement should have come years ago because giving up the profession has given her an opportunity to ‘enjoy’ life.
Appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last Tuesday evening, Williams, 40, also revealed she was uncharacteristically nervous after announcing her retirement plans to Vogue in August.
She said: ‘The whole time, I was stressed out, I thought I was going to be really miserable and scared with this whole article coming out.
‘You have to think I have been playing tennis since I was literally in a stroller. There is a picture of Venus pushing me in a stroller.
‘For me to suddenly have to be done it was like well this is a big thing. When it came out, I was actually relieved. I didn’t expect to feel that way but I felt good.’
She added: ‘I should have done it ten years ago. I always thought that at the end of it, I would just leave quietly and not say anything and just make an announcement on social media.’
She admitted, albeit with tongue-firmly-in-cheek, that her retirement should have come years ago because giving up the profession has given her an opportunity to ‘enjoy’ life
Speaking with Jimmy Fallon (right), the tennis legend joked Tom Brady started a ‘cool’ trend
However, the American star did tease that she could copy Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brady, who briefly retired during the NFL offseason earlier this year before making a U-turn on the decision.
When questioned on the subject of copying Brady, she said: ‘Tom Brady started an amazing trend. That’s what I want to say.’
She also revealed that she does not intend for retirement to be a relaxing period but rather an ‘evolution of Serena’.
‘I think retirement is something that is super earned and that people work really hard for,’ she added.
Williams pictured with her daughter and close friend the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle
Ohanian and Olympia were spotted in the stands for Williams’ opening US Open match
‘I just feel like that I’m at an age where I definitely have a lot more to give and there’s a lot more I want to do, so I’m not going to be relaxing. There’s so much more for me. I feel it’s more of an evolution of Serena.
‘There’s so many things that I’ve been wanting to do for so many years and I have had such a passion for tennis for so long that I’ve never done it. But now it’s time for me to start to enjoy those things.’
Olympia had made an adorable cameo at her mom’s opening round match against Danka Kovinic at Flushing Meadows as Williams began her final tournament.
Olympia was spotted in the stands alongside her father and Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian at the Arthur Ashe stadium on August 29.
The youngster was twinning with her mom as she was decked out in a matching outfit to Williams’ dazzling on-court look.
Olympia cheered on her mom from the stands during Williams’ first US Open match
The five-year-old in the stands with her father Alexis Ohanian to cheer her mom on in New York
Olympia was twinning with her mom as she donned a matching crystal-embellished Nike outfit
She also had white beads in her hair in a tribute to her mom’s first US open win in 1999
The outfit, made by longtime partner Nike, was all-black and covered in diamonds and the sportswear giant had produced a matching outfit for Olympia, who cheered her mother on in the stand sitting alongside her father.
Williams’ daughter was seen blowing kisses to the crowd and cheering enthusiastically throughout.
The little one did not make an appearance at her mom’s later matches at Flushing Meadow but she was there in spirit.
Ohanian was pictured rocking a beautiful tribute to his daughter during Williams’ third-round clash – and eventual defeat – against Australia’s Tomljanovic as he sported a t-shirt with a picture of Olympia on from her opening round appearance.
Ohanian paid tribute to his daughter, Olympia, Williams’ loss against Ajla Tomlijanovic
The Reddit cofounder wore a t-shirt with a photo of Olympia from her first-round appearance
Olympia was present during Serena Williams’ first match but did not attend later matches
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