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She’s won 23 grand slams, four Olympic gold medals and was ranked world No 1 on eight occasions.
Given her stellar record it’s hard to believe Serena Williams has been preparing for the day her career ends.
But the 40-year-old tennis superstar recently opened up about getting ready for the time she hangs up her racket.
“I’ve been prepared for that day for over a decade,” she says.
Serena knows how important it is to plan for the future. Her father, Richard (79), instilled in her the need to think ahead.
“My dad always said you got to prepare,” she says.
“I think it’s really important to always have a plan and that’s kind of what I did.”
But Patrick Mouratoglou, who’s been Serena’s coach since 2012, says she won’t quit until she breaks the record for most Grand Slam wins by a woman.
Serena is one Grand Slam short of tying with Margaret Court for the most decorated female tennis player in modern history.
“I don’t think she’ll stop until she wins a Grand Slam – she came back to win Grand Slams,” Patrick says.
“She doesn’t quit.”
READ MORE | Serena Williams shares ongoing struggles in the world of professional tennis: 'I don't want to blend in'
The tennis ace says she isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet but admits there are days when she finds it overwhelming to balance being a professional athlete, businesswoman, wife and mom.
“Some days it’s harder than the others,” she says.
Serena is involved in several businesses, according to Forbes magazine.
She has almost 20 corporate partners and investments in 66 startups, including Bitcoin rewards start-up company Lolli.
In 2018 she launched a direct-to-consumer clothing line called S by Serena and also signed a TV deal with Amazon Studios that includes a docuseries about her.
And if that’s not impressive enough she’s also a strategic adviser to The Mom Project, a digital talent community that connects professional women with leading companies.
Two years ago she also invested in a soccer team. Her daughter, Olympia (4), is a co-owner, making the tot the world’s youngest owner of a football team.
READ MORE | Serena’s Mini-Me Olympia follows in the champ’s footsteps
“It’s definitely more tough because I’m still a mom and I’m still a wife,” Serena says.
"I want to be able to spend time with my family and I want to be the best mom.”
Serena and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian (38), would like to grow their family one day.
“I know the clock is ticking so I need to figure out when that’s going to be, but hopefully soon when I’ll feel no pressure.”
Having missed this year’s Australian Open due to a hamstring injury, she’s now hard at work for her return to the Women's Tennis Association Tour this year.
But something tells us that with three more major tournaments in 2022, retirement and babies will have to wait a little longer.
SOURCES: USMAGAZINE.COM, PEOPLE.COM, ETONLINE.COM, EXPRESS.CO.UK, AFROTECH.COM, INSTAGRAM/SERENAWILLIAMS
