Slightly over two weeks after Serena Williams was knocked out of the U.S. Open and began her "retirement," she's teasing a potential return to the sport. The tennis great said, "you never know" and that "Tom Brady started a really cool trend."
Serena Williams: Retirement or not?
After a year-long absence, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, 40, returned to singles tennis this year. She competed at Wimbledon, the National Bank Open, the Western & Southern Open, and the US Open, as well as several doubles tennis tournaments.
Williams announced earlier this year she would "evolve away from tennis" after the grand slam tournament, and celebrities and fans galore came out to watch the last act of her brilliant career.
Spectators weren't disappointed. Williams went on to perform powerfully at the US Open until being knocked out in the third round by Ajla Tomljanović, CNN reported.
Serena Williams teases return to tennis – will she pull a Tom Brady?
Serena Williams has been making the rounds in the New York media this week promoting the release of her first children's book, The Adventures of Qai Qai, later this month. During those appearances, she's also been asked repeatedly if she would consider returning to tennis.
She appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday to chat about the book and was asked about a possible comeback, ESPN reported.
"I mean, you never know," Williams said. "I've just been saying that I think Tom Brady started a really cool trend."
I’ve just been saying that I think that Tom Brady started a really cool trend, you know," Williams continued, "and the way he did it, a few weeks."
She also appeared on The Tonight Show on Tuesday.
Host Jimmy Fallon asked Serena if there was a chance she could follow in the footsteps of Tom Brady and make a return to her sport, the New York Post reported.
"You know what?" Serena said. "Tom Brady started an amazing trend."
Tom Brady retired from professional football and then un-retired only 40 days later.
How does Williams' daughter like the children's book?
As far as Williams' children's book, she was asked on Good Morning America how her 5-year-old daughter Olympia likes the book, People reported.
"Olympia thinks it's her in the book," Serena said. "She thinks the mom is me and she thinks the dad is my husband."
"It's quite funny because I'm like it's not us," Serena added "I don't want it to go to her head."
Williams said the book's story includes "some really cool hidden messages about self-confidence" and goes "back to the art about being a kid."