Serena Williams praises Tom Brady's NFL return and says she is ‘evolving’ not retiring

The 23-time Grand Slam champion apparently played her last match at the US Open this month but continues to choose her words carefully 

Final farewell? Serena Williams, of the United States, waves to fans after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Austrailia, in the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. Pic: AP Photo/John Minchillo

Serena Williams says she “will not be relaxing” after playing what is likely to be her final competitive tennis match, and can now find time for “things that I’ve been wanting to do for so many years”.

The 23-time grand slam champion said that her reported “retirement” from the sport was “more of an evolution of Serena” and it was time for her to explore her other passions.