--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really did want to play Serena before…" description: "\"I really did want to play Serena before she retired.\" — Ajla Tomljanovic" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg" --- # I really did want to play Serena before she retired. ![“I really did want to play Serena before she retired.” quote by Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg) > “I really did want to play Serena before she retired.” [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to experience a player’s style before retirement **In simple terms:** Wanting to play Serena before she stopped playing Key Takeaway Seek opportunities while they exist Themes sports career opportunity Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal sports When to use this quote - tennis match - career planning - sports nostalgia Key Concepts legacy timing personal desire Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if a favorite athlete retired now? - How does timing affect personal goals? A Different Perspective Limited time may prevent fulfillment of such wishes ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Did Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-want/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Serena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-serena-725136/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Retired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retired/) [Serena Retired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serena-retired-4744438/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-play/) ## Related quotes > [Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a Grand Slam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-osaka/even-when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-always-dreamed-that-i-would-play/) [Naomi Osaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-osaka/) > [To play against Serena in a final is something special. You know you must play your best tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelique-kerber/to-play-against-serena-in-a-final-is-something-special-you-know-you/) [Angelique Kerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelique-kerber/) > [So many players play Serena Williams, and so many players may catch her on a bad day, but she finds a way. She finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-bryant/so-many-players-play-serena-williams-and-so-many-players-may-catch/) [Howard Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-bryant/) > [It's unbelievable. To be in the semis, it's just crazy. To play Serena it will be a great match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/it-s-unbelievable-to-be-in-the-semis-it-s-just-crazy-to-play-serena/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I always say that I want to play Serena Williams if they ever did a biopic of hers. I definitely want to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-erivo/i-always-say-that-i-want-to-play-serena-williams-if-they-ever-did-a/) [Cynthia Erivo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-erivo/) > [My mom actively did not want me to play professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/my-mom-actively-did-not-want-me-to-play-professionally/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [All I want to do is to play my tennis and try to do the best possible on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/all-i-want-to-do-is-to-play-my-tennis-and-try-to-do-the-best-possible/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [Let's just say that back in the old days, sex was available every two feet. But I never made love to anybody that did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/let-s-just-say-that-back-in-the-old-days-sex-was-available-every-two/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [People ask me, 'Did you always want to be on SNL?' No, actually, it never crossed my mind. It didn't even seem possible. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/people-ask-me-did-you-always-want-to-be-on-snl-no-actually-it-never/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I did not want to avoid service. I did realize reservists could be called up, and that it was something that I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-blumenthal/i-did-not-want-to-avoid-service-i-did-realize-reservists-could-be/) [Richard Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-blumenthal/) > [After all you did to me all I want to know is, WHY THE FUCK DO I STILL LOVE YOU?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-loveable/after-all-you-did-to-me-all-i-want-to-know-is-why-the-fuck-do-i-still/) [Arjun Loveable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-loveable/) > [I did not want to be the best black man of the year; I wanted to be the best man of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/i-did-not-want-to-be-the-best-black-man-of-the-year-i-wanted-to-be/) [Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/) > [And the other was this: the doctor did want to take off my leg because he thought it was necessary. But you must remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/and-the-other-was-this-the-doctor-did-want-to-take-off-my-leg-because/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I simply did not want my face to be my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-simply-did-not-want-my-face-to-be-my-talent/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Did I want a dog? No. Did I need a dog? Also no. We were six kids running for our lives, not knowing where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/did-i-want-a-dog-no-did-i-need-a-dog-also-no-we-were-six-kids-running/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by Ajla Tomljanovic > [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [Champagne was the first drink I tried when I was turned the drinking age, and whenever there's a big celebration, it's always been my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/champagne-was-the-first-drink-i-tried-when-i-was-turned-the-drinking/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [When the Greatest of All Time retires, people are going to want to see that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/when-the-greatest-of-all-time-retires-people-are-going-to-want-to-see/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [It's not like I'm trying to now completely forget about where I was born. But embracing the Aussie culture and playing for Australia, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/it-s-not-like-i-m-trying-to-now-completely-forget-about-where-i-was/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [My dad is definitely a constant in my team, always. I think mentally he knows me the best, I mean he is my dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/my-dad-is-definitely-a-constant-in-my-team-always-i-think-mentally-he/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [Give me a crop top and high-waisted tights and that is my go-to every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/give-me-a-crop-top-and-high-waisted-tights-and-that-is-my-go-to-every/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I think you can often find yourself relating to when someone loses because there are fewer winners in the world, in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-think-you-can-often-find-yourself-relating-to-when-someone-loses/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I love when players are able to express themselves and show their personality through their unique style. I think what you wear is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-love-when-players-are-able-to-express-themselves-and-show-their/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I use a lot of weighted vests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-use-a-lot-of-weighted-vests/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [People don't always relate to winners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/people-don-t-always-relate-to-winners/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [The winning feeling is what I kind of crave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/the-winning-feeling-is-what-i-kind-of-crave/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I try not to treat the AO differently to any other tournament. But naturally, it's one where I really want to do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-try-not-to-treat-the-ao-differently-to-any-other-tournament-but/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [Aligning with Piper-Heidsieck suits me because they're on an ethical and sustainable path as a business and their values align with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/aligning-with-piper-heidsieck-suits-me-because-they-re-on-an-ethical/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I kinda live by feel good, look good, play good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-kinda-live-by-feel-good-look-good-play-good/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I mean, no one's going to pronounce my name right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-mean-no-one-s-going-to-pronounce-my-name-right/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) [Explore all 57 Ajla Tomljanovic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) ## More Before quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [But even before I was in the military, I was extremely jumpy when asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/but-even-before-i-was-in-the-military-i-was-extremely-jumpy-when/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [When I'm making stuff, the thing that excites me most is not the result, but the process and trying to do something I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/when-i-m-making-stuff-the-thing-that-excites-me-most-is-not-the/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I've pulled ticks off of me before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-ve-pulled-ticks-off-of-me-before/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) [Browse all 4,123 Before quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really did want to play Serena before she retired.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ajla Tomljanovic" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before-she-retired/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Before" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before-she-retired/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/ajla-tomljanovic-11938_before_i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before_2186169.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really did want to play Serena before she retired.” — Ajla Tomljanovic", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ajla Tomljanovic", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I really did want to play...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before-she-retired/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-really-did-want-to-play-serena-before-she-retired/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```