Sixteen summers ago, Andre Agassi announced his plans to retire from tennis after the 2006 US Open. With eight Grand Slam men's singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, the then-36-year-old won two matches before falling—almost literally—to Benjamin Becker in the third round. He limped off court, in pain and in tears.
“The scoreboard said I lost today,” said an emotional Agassi. “But what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what it is I’ve found.”
Fast forward to summer 2022—and a retirement party staged by another star with decades of dominance. That would be Serena Williams, who owns 23 Grand Slam women’s singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. In an August Vogue magazine essay, Williams spoke candidly about how hard it is to balance motherhood and tennis.
“I hate that I have to be at this crossroads. I keep saying to myself, ‘I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not,’” she wrote. “I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.”
After her third-round defeat, Williams was also emotional on court, shedding what she called “happy tears.” When asked if she might reconsider retirement, a smiling Williams replied, “I don't think so, but you never know.”
(In case you were thinking of buying Williams that most traditional of retirement gifts—a timepiece—don’t bother. She wore a custom Audemars Piguet wristwatch set with 32 diamonds on court.)
For her part, 42-year-old sister Venus Williams dismissed the “Are you quitting?” question after her Round 1 women’s singles loss with a diplomatic, “Right now, I'm just focused on the doubles.” The sisters, who claimed two US Open women’s doubles titles, lost their Round 1 match.
Safe to say, the tennis world is experiencing its own version of the “great resignation” that’s all over the national news. Along with Williams, American Sam Querrey, a former World No. 11, announced his retirement following the 2022 US Open. The 34-year-old father of two made a quiet exit after his Round 1 loss to Ilya Ivashka and doubles defeat with partner Steve Johnson.
"I came to terms with it. And it felt great," said an affable Querrey about his decision to retire. "The last six weeks have been very enjoyable.”
As for what’s next: "There's something I'm working on," Querrey replied. On Instagram he posted an on-court photo of his wife and sons with the caption, “looking forward to the next chapter with my family.”
By contrast, Andrea Petkovic, age 35, held an emotional press conference after her Round 1 loss to Belinda Bencic. Overcome with tears at times, the former World No. 9, spoke movingly about how hard it is to give up the thing she loves best.
“I still love the game, still have a tremendous amount of passion for the game. It's more the body that is not allowing me to play tennis anymore in a way that I want to play it, train the way I want to train,” said the forthcoming German, who’s known on tour for her intellectualism—and humor.
Of her retirement reveal, Petkovic shared this story: “I'm going to post something on social media,” she decided in August, but then the next morning, “I wake up, my phone is blinking too crazy and the Serena Vogue piece came out,” she laughed, saying to herself, “Okay, nobody will care.”
The day after she left USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the last time as a player, it looked like retirement was agreeing with “Petko.” She posted on Instagram a photo of herself on New York City’s Rockaway Beach, enjoying beers in a bikini. “First day of retirement, enjoying my sixpack while it lasts,” was the caption.
Spare a thought, too, for New Jersey's own Christina McHale and four-time US Open men's and mixed doubles champion Bruno Soares, who also hung up their racquets after bowing out of the tournament in qualifying and the main draw, respectively.
"End of an era," McHale wrote on social media. "I am so grateful to have had the chance to live out my childhood dream all of these years. At times it feels like my career has gone by so quickly and at other times it feels like a lifetime ago that I first started on tour. I have learned so much through all the ups and downs and have so many amazing memories I will cherish forever."
