Serena Williams plans on 'staying vague' about retirement plans

New York: Serena Williams said she is "staying vague" about her planned tennis retirement after making it to the second round of the US Open on Monday.

"I have been pretty vague about it, right? I'm going to stay vague because you never know," said the 40-year-old after beating Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams declared earlier this month that she was "evolving away" from tennis and that her 27-year career as a pro was coming to an end.

Prior to Monday, the former world number one had only one victory on the tour this year, dropping to rank 605.

She revealed that she was about to retire and hinted that this US Open will be her last tournament due to her strong form.

With contradictory statements made both on the court and in her post-game news conference, she continued to leave the public in the dark about her specific future plans on Monday.

"It was such a hard decision," Williams told her on-court interviewer when asked about her original announcement revealed in an essay for Vogue magazine.

"I think when you are passionate about something it is always hard to walk away," she said.

"I have been trying to decide what to do. I love this game.

She added: "I think now's the time. I have a family and there are other chapters in life. I call it evolution."

"It's like Serena 2.0. I will still be crazy, I'll still be intense. I'll still be around. But I look forward to waking up and not having to run onto a tennis court."

On Monday, Williams overcame a shaky first game to hold serve after entering the court in a diamond-encrusted black dress and jacket.

With a break for 2-0 and a chase for a net cord to smash the winning shot, the American star brought the audience to its feet, AFP reported.

The 80th-ranked player in the world, Kovinic, has had a strong year at the Slams, making it to the third round of both the Australian and French Opens.

With her own break, the 27-year-old fought back and moved ahead 3-2.

Williams levelled the match after serving six double faults in the opening game, but she quickly took the next three games to win the set.

In the second set, powerful drives from the back of the court led to another break for 3-2.

The American gained a 5-3 advantage in a love service game, and she won with the night's last break.

To the joy of the audience, which included tennis icon Martina Navratilova, former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, and former US president Bill Clinton, she did a little jig and smiled broadly as she celebrated.

"Serena, we love you," was written on cards that the crowd held up.

Williams' next match is on Wednesday against Estonia's No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round.