Serena Williams’ career was marked by extraordinary achievements, perhaps none more iconic than winning her 23rd Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with her first child, Alexis Olympia. Four years later, in 2022, she signaled a shift, announcing her “evolution” from the sport, a decision partly driven by the desire to fully embrace family life, stating, “I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.” Now, with her second daughter, Adira, having arrived less than a year after her departure, and her entrepreneurial ventures, Serena Ventures and WYN Beauty, thriving, what are Serena’s reflections three years on from that significant transition?

“I miss it a lot, with all my heart,” she said to Time Magazine on April 16.

Williams admitted, “I miss it because I’m healthy,” suggesting her fit state at 43 fuels thoughts of a return. Interestingly, just four days prior to this conversation, the passing of boxing legend George Foreman, who became a champion at 45, sparked a fleeting thought of a comeback in Williams’ mind. “He was champion at 45,” she noted.

“If I couldn’t walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn’t miss it as much,” Williams further said. “I think I’m healthy because I didn’t overplay.” While acknowledging the intriguing possibility that her health stems from retirement, she deems a comeback “highly unlikely.” Why?

The pull of motherhood is too strong: “I just can’t peel myself away from these children.” Reflecting on her second child, Adira, she affirmed, “Another reason I had to transition was because I wanted to have more kids. And I look at Adira and I’m like, ‘Was it worth it?’ I literally thought about it the other day. I was like, ‘Yeah, it was definitely worth it.’”

Prior to her final professional tennis match, where she lost against Ajla Tomljanović at the 2022, US Open, Serena Williams shared with TIME that a key reason for stepping away was to fully embrace motherhood, expressing a desire to move from “good” to “great” in that role.

Nearly three years later, the mother of two confidently declared when asked about her progress, “I’m a wonderful mom. I think we, as women, don’t give ourselves credit, but I’m a great mom. I really am. I do everything. I’m freaking the room mom at Olympia’s school this year.”

Since retiring, Serena Williams frequently shares heartwarming moments with daughters Alexis Olympia and Adira River. We see Olympia joining her in kitchen adventures and even Super Bowl rehearsals, with Adira already echoing Serena’s “Come On!” cheer.

While she seems sure about not coming back to the court, Williams really meant it when she said she wasn’t just going to fade away after tennis. Fans have watched her absolutely deliver on her promise to become a powerhouse businesswoman. Over the past 15 years, she’s invested her own money in more than 120 companies—seriously, 14 of those are now valued at over $1 billion!

Her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, has raised over $100 million in outside capital since 2021 and has invested in more than 30 companies just in that span. The pace at Serena Ventures is wild—deal flow there has actually quadrupled in the last year. She’s clearly not slowing down, and it’s inspiring to see her put her energy into building something so impactful. Is there more to come?

Serena Williams on her next move in business and how it much it cost her

Serena Williams celebrated a big milestone on April 2—her makeup label Wyn Beauty turned one! To mark the occasion, the brand threw a fun two-day pop-up event in Los Angeles on April 11 and 12. Inspired by mixing sun cream and foundation in the Wimbledon locker room she spent years creating a brand that truly reflects diversity and inclusivity. At the pop-up, Serena opened up about the sacrifices she makes to succeed in business.

She told People Magazine on April 11, “Yeah, it definitely costs a lot. I’m here [in California] without my kids, and that’s a big cost for me because I spend a lot of time with my children, and they’re very attached to me, which a part of me loves. So, it’s always some cost.” Throughout her career, she’s had to make tough choices between winning championships and spending time with family, knowing those costs are high.

After all the hard work, Serena is ready to slow down a bit. She happily declared, “I’m done! I’m not launching anything else like this. I just am happy doing WYN Beauty. And I’m happy being a mom, and I’m happy with my venture company, and that’s a lot. We’re good!” It’s clear she’s proud of what she’s built and is focusing on balancing business and family life.

Now, fans are left wondering what’s next. Will Serena focus more on family adventures with her husband Alexis Ohanian and their daughters? Whether she expands her family or just enjoys the moment, one thing’s certain—Serena always surprises us. What do you think she’ll do next? Share your thoughts below!