sport news Here's what fans will miss as tennis legend Serena Williams steps away from the ... trends now
Serena Williams shocked the tennis world on Tuesday afternoon by announcing she would be stepping away from the sport following the upcoming US Open.
The 40-year-old American star has not yet confirmed the date of her departure from the sport (and even avoided using the word 'retirement'), but she will step away to spend more time with her five-year-old, Olympia, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
Williams is one of the best tennis players in the world and has been at the top of the sport since bursting onto the scene in 1997.
She has won an incredible 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals during her storied career. She has also given her fans a lifetime worth of fantastic memories.
Serena's athleticism, strength, speed and flexibility - coupled with her determination to succeed - have made her a force to be reckoned with.
However, Serena is more than just a tennis icon. She is a legend that has paved the way for female athletes and stoop up to discrimination in a multitude of forms.
So with her retirement looming large, Sportsmail have taken a look back at the most iconic and memorable moments of Serena's career.
Serena Williams has announced she will be departing from the sport after the US Open
Serena has not confirmed when she will be retiring but is going to step away from the court
The Williams sisters burst onto the scene in the 1990's and it wasn't long before they became household names in tennis.
Fans across the world were mesmerised by their athleticism and heaped praise on their ability to serve the ball at pace.
It was Venus who rose to stardom first - reaching the final of the US Open at just 17-years-old. However, it didn't take long for Serena to make her mark.
The 16-year-old starlet reached the semi-finals of the Ameritech Cup after beating world number seven Mary Pierce and world number four Monica Seles despite being ranked 304.
The Williams sisters burst onto the scene in the 1990's and it wasn't long before they became household names in tennis
Williams picked up her first Grand Slam singles title in 1999 - a truly iconic moment as no one had quite anticipated what was to follow.
Martina Hingis beat Venus in the US Open semi-finals to secure her place in the final against Serena.
Williams - who was competing in her first major final - beat Hingis in straight sets to claim her first piece of silverware.
The American has gone on to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles along with 14 major championships in doubles.
Serena picked up her first Grand Slam singles title in 1999, winning the US Open in New York
Williams has spoken out against racism frequently throughout her career but one of the defining moments of her career came when she took a stance following the tournament in Indian Wells.
The crowd turned against the Americans after Venus pulled out of a scheduled semi-final clash with Serena - four minutes before the contest was due to begin.
Serena has spoken out against racism frequently throughout her career but one of the defining moments came when she took a stance following the tournament in Indian Wells (above)
The decision fuelled suggestions - always denied by the Williams family - that the sisters were reluctant to play against each other, and that when they did play the results were pre-determined.
Venus and father Richard were jeered as they made their way to watch Serena in the final.
As she played the match, the 19-year-old faced a crowd that was firmly against her, and she is convinced racism was the cause.
As result, the Williams sisters decided to boycott the tournament - which neither of them playing in the tournament from 2001 to 2015.
Venus and father Richard were jeered as they made their way to watch Serena in the final
However, Serena made the decision to return to the tournament in 2015 - saying: 'I'm fortunate to be at a point in my career where I have nothing to prove. I'm still as driven as ever, but the ride is a little easier.
'I play for the love of the game. And it is with that love in mind, and a new understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness, that I will proudly return to Indian Wells in 2015.'
Reflecting on her 2001 experience, the American wrote: 'The false allegations that our matches were fixed hurt, cut and ripped into us deeply.
'The undercurrent of racism was painful, confusing and unfair.
'In a game I loved with all my heart, at one of my most cherished tournaments, I suddenly felt unwelcome, alone and afraid.'
2002-03: The first Serena SlamThe 2002-03 tennis season was the campaign in which Serena became a bonafide tennis legend!
After a remarkable run of victories, Williams had managed to claim all four Grand Slam titles.
By doing so, she became the first player to have won all four simultaneously since Steffi Graf managed to do so in 1994.
It started with the French Open where she beat Venus in the final to win the second Grand Slam title of her career.
Serena picked up her first Slam after beating her sister Venus in their fourth consecutive Grand Slam final in 2003
Just months later at Wimbledon, Williams then beat Venus again tp win the title without dropping a single set. That success also gave her the world No 1 ranking.
As the sibling rivalry continued to dominate the sport, Williams again saw off Venus to win the US Open title as she moved to just one Grand Slam win away from complete dominance.
The wait to get her hands on the Australian Open continued into 2003 after she was forced to withdraw in Melbourne in 2002 through injury.
She would not be denied 12 months later though when she beat - you guessed it - Venus in their fourth consecutive Grand Slam final, to become only the sixth woman in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam.
2004: Serena's first run-in with the officialsDuring her 2004 US Open quarter-final against Jennifer Capriati, there were four line calls that went against Williams, including an incorrect over-rule by umpire Mariana Alves.
The most controversial saw Alves over-rule the line judge in the first game of the third set.
Williams, wearing her iconic Nike denim skirt, hit a backhand return that was clearly in and was ruled in by the line judge. But Alves did not agree and gave Capriati the point before she went on to win the game.
Williams argued with Alves, who did not officiate for the rest of the tournament, but there was nothing she could do as she bowed out in New York City.
To make things worse, TV replays clearly showed Williams had every right to be angry.
Officials from the United States Tennis Association apologised to Williams in the aftermath and said they would consider using video replay. This match has been labelled as key to the introduction of Hawkeye.
It was the first of Williams' run-ins with authority at Flushing Meadows.
Serena argued with umpire Mariana Alves after a series of close line calls in her 2004 US Open quarter-final (above)
Although Williams is a global star, she is susceptible to injuries and she had plenty of setbacks throughout her career.
Between the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2005, Williams completed just two
