Serena Williams retirement: 'Deep down it really annoys her' - Why Tommy Haas thinks legend will make comeback

Updated 15/12/2022 at 15:42 GMT

Serena Williams has previously hinted that she could return to tennis one day, in the same way that NFL legend Tom Brady backtracked on his retirement plans to continue playing into his 40s. Speaking to Eurosport Germany, former tennis player Tommy Haas shared his thoughts on Williams' retirement and said that he has a feeling she will make a comeback after battling back so often before.

'No one dominantes like Serena and Venus did' - Gauff ahead of WTA Finals

Former tennis star Tommy Haas believes that American legend Serena Williams will make a comeback at some point due to something currently unfulfilled.

Williams subtly hinted she could return to tennis when asked on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon if she would make a shock return in the same way NFL superstar Tom Brady backtracked on his retirement plans to continue playing.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner announced her decision to "evolve away” from the sport in an interview with Vogue in August. But then asked after she was knocked out in the third round of the US Open by Ajla Tomljanovic in September if she may be tempted to keep going, she said: "I don't know. I'm not thinking about that. I always did love Australia, though.”

WTA Charleston

Collins 'so grateful' for Williams sisters' support after winning Charleston title

08/04/2024 at 10:11

Asked by Fallon if she could perform a dramatic U-turn from her current retirement, Williams said: "Tom Brady started an amazing trend. That's what I want to say."

Former world No. 2 Haas is unconvinced that Williams will remain retired and has speculated that she will make a return due to the fact that she came so agonisingly close to finding her top level once more in search for that elusive record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title.

"Serena had an incredible, long and strong career," Haas told Eurosport Germany's tennis podcast Das Gelbe vom Ball while also discussing Roger Federer's retirement.

"But I have the feeling that she is going to come back and say, 'I'm going to play one more time'. She came so close to playing really well again and going far, so I think deep down it really annoys her.

"She might really be thinking about whether she wants to try again. I may be wrong because I'm not that close [to her].

"It will mostly depend on how it looks mentally, how she feels physically and whether she has the desire to torture herself like that again after achieving so much.

"Serena also does a lot of things off the court and is a mother."

‘Better for all concerned’ – McEnroe on Federer and Serena retirements

Another tennis legend, John McEnroe, has previously told Eurosport that he thinks both Williams and Roger Federer should remain retired but said the decision ultimately comes down to the individual.

"Both of these superstars and legends can do whatever they want," he told Eurosport. "Serena's thing was amazing at the US Open.

"To me, when you announce your retirement, you should retire. But you look at other athletes and they come back and they think 'hey I just played well, I can still win' - so that's really up to them.

"On the one hand, I think they're ready to move on, but then it's so difficult to do that because it's such a big part of your life. Then if they did come back, you wouldn't hold it against them.

"Of course, we want to see them play forever, but it feels like when you make those types of announcements it's right to say 'this is the way it should end'. I think it would be better for all concerned."

Serena Williams gets emotional in a post match interview after losing against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles third round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, on Se

Image credit: Getty Images

- - -

Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

Australian Open