The sporting legend who Serena Williams said motivated her to keep playing tennis when she was 40 years old

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Serena Williams is often the person who is inspiring others, but it was actually another sporting star who motivated her to keep playing.

Williams retired from tennis at the 2022 US Open, bringing her 27-year tennis career to an end.

Although it has been three years since her retirement, there have been rumours that Williams may be returning to tennis.

Williams has denied these rumours, but she perhaps could be persuaded if a certain sporting legend contacts her again.

Tiger Woods helped Serena Williams keep playing tennis in 2022

Williams had not played tennis for nearly a year, before returning for the grass court season in 2022 when she was 40 years old.

However, after losing in the first round of Wimbledon, there appeared to be signs of doubt creeping in for Williams.

These doubts were expressed in an interview with Vogue, where Williams announced her retirement, but revealed that golf legend Tiger Woods inspired her to play the US Open.

“I said, ‘I don’t know what to do: I think I’m over it, but maybe I’m not over [tennis],'” said Williams. “He’s Tiger, and he was adamant that I be a beast the same way he is!

“He said, ‘Serena, what if you just gave it two weeks? You don’t have to commit to anything. You just go out on the court every day for two weeks and give it your all and see what happens.’ I said, ‘All right, I think I can do that.'”

Woods was actually present in Williams’ player’s box for her second round match at the 2022 US Open, where she beat second seed Anett Kontaveit.

In her post-match press conference, Williams was asked about what it meant to have Woods supporting her in person.

“Yeah, he’s one of the reasons I’m here, one of the main reasons I’m still playing,” said Williams. “So we talked a lot. He was really trying to get me motivated. There’s a few people, but we were like, Okay, we can do this together, you know?

“It was good, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was just lost, so many questions. When you can rely on someone like that, I mean, my goodness, he’s Tiger Woods, it was really helpful to get clarity.”

What Tiger Woods messaged Serena Williams after she played her last match

Williams’ win over Kontaveit was the last match she ever won in her career, as she saw her career come to an end after losing in the next round.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion’s career would come to an end after she was beaten by Ajla Tomljanovic in front of an electric crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Despite Tomljanovic being the victor, Williams’ career coming to an end was the big talking point and the tributes poured in for her.

This included the aforementioned Woods, who wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “@serenawilliams you’re literally the greatest on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. I love you little sis!!!!!!”

Many thought that was the final match of Williams’ career, but after she re-entered the drug testing pool it has been suggested that may not be the case.

Although Williams has denied these rumours, a lot of tennis fans have suggested that she could play doubles alongside her older sister Venus at the US Open for one final farewell for the legendary tennis siblings.