US tennis star Serena Williams has announced her plans to retire from the sport, signaling she will retire after the US Open in New York, which starts later this month.
Williams, 40, announced the news in a Vogue article published on Tuesday, saying she didn't like the word 'retirement' and preferred to call her decision 'development'.
"I'm here to tell you that I'm developing away from tennis, towards other things that are important to me." - said the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
Williams won her first singles match in more than a year on Monday as she defeated Spain's Nuria Parrizas-Diaz at the Canadian Open.
The American had returned from a long injury layoff in the UK earlier in the summer, first playing doubles at Eastbourne before entering the main draw at Wimbledon, where she was knocked out in the first round.
The US Open at Flushing Meadows looks set to be Williams' last chance to equal what has been an elusive 24th Grand Slam singles title, which would tie the all-time record with Australia's Margaret Court.
In addition to her 23 Grand Slam singles crowns, Williams has won 14 major doubles titles alongside sister Venus, as well as four Olympic gold medals.
