Once Serena Williams is ousted in the U.S. Open, the suspense will move toward what’s next for the Compton legend.
It’s not like Williams to leave the spotlight. She’s been involved in a ton of fashion/business/NFL and movie-production ventures. In her Vogue magazine announcement, she said she would “evolve away from tennis’’ — not retire.
Richard Williams, Serena’s father who is no longer is in the public eye because of his ailing health, told The Post multiple times in the early 2000s that Serena and Venus would retire from tennis sooner than later because they had too many other ambitions. He said his girls were too cerebral to knock the tennis ball around into their 30s.
Papa Williams’ prediction on that one proved astray, with Serena playing until weeks before her 41st birthday. The 42-year-old Venus, whose Grand Slam production got stalled by Sjogren’s Syndrome, is entered into this year’s Open draw.
“She’s never been one to be really into the politics of the game,’’ tennis great Chris Evert of ESPN said of Serena. “So I don’t envision her really around tournaments. I think maybe having another child. I think she wants to spend more time at home with her husband. I think she’s into entrepreneurship. She has a lot of businesses away from tennis. I don’t think she’s going to be as visible in tennis as she is outside of tennis.’’
Serena pulled her Greta Garbo act and didn’t attend U.S. Open media day on Friday. Instead, she appeared this week on a “Today’’ show panel, where she gave herself a tiny out — perhaps in case she pulls a Queens miracle and wins a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title. Williams, who hasn’t won a major since 2017, faces 80th ranked Danka Kovinic on Monday night at what will be a rollicking Ashe Stadium.
“I mean, I don’t know, I think so,’’ Williams said when asked if she’s definitely done after Flushing. “But who knows. I don’t think [I’d play Australian Open], but you never know. I’ve learned in my career never say never.’’
Asked if it would be tough not to have broken the Grand Slam record as she seemed destined to do, Williams said, “I’ve already broken the record. I’ve never dreamt of having this many Grand Slam titles. I thought I‘d play tennis and win one Grand Slam or two. For me, it’s a bonus.
“This whole journey is going to be emotional,’’ Serena added. “I love what I do. It’s not about not loving my job. I’ve played it my whole entire life. It’s very emotional to evolve into something new.’’
Serena, Venus and their sister Isha Price were executive producers of the award-winning “King Richard’’ movie that detailed their childhood. The movie ended as Venus turned pro at the 1997 U.S. Open 25 years ago. Serena has indicated a sequel is in store detailing the divergent pro careers of the iconic sisters.
That could be her only attachment to tennis in retirement.
“I just believe and hope that if she is able to stay around the sport in some way,’’ Rafael Nadal said. “It’s going to be great for our sport because I always believe that the sports are bigger when the legends of our sport are around the sport, no?”
She’s already been the driving force to so many of the young stars who talk being in awe and tongue-tied around her in the locker room.
Naomi Osaka said Saturday she cried the day before Williams’ Vogue announcement after watching her lose in Toronto earlier this month. Osaka sensed the end was near.
“For some reason I just started crying because I felt it,’’ Osaka said. “Then she announced it the day later. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is what devastation must feel like.’ ”
A two-time Open champion, Osaka recognizes Serena transcends tennis — which bodes well for her being visible after this tennis swan song.
She’s reportedly invested in 60 start-ups with her firm, Serena Ventures. The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., resident is part-owner of the Miami Dolphins and women’s soccer team Angel City in Los Angeles. She said in Vogue investing in women-run companies is a priority, and plans to come out with a new book about her daughter’s doll, named Qai Qai.
“Business-wise she’s very into tech, so whoever follows that I think it will clearly be under her influence,’’ Osaka said. “Culturally and style-wise, she was the first one to have her own line and stuff like that. There’s definitely been a lot of barriers that I’m sure she had to fight to break down.
“I know she didn’t call it a retirement, she called it like an evolution which I think is really cool,’’ Osaka added. “I feel like the term ‘retirement’ kind of means an end to something. But since she says ‘evolution,’ it means like a continuing journey.’’
