Serena Williams: Why It's Time for Serena to Retire Following Australian Open

Last week, after winning her first match of 2012 at the Brisbane International, Serena Williams dropped a bombshell on the tennis world.

Said Williams, via ESPN:

"

"I don't love tennis today. I've actually never liked sports, and I never understood how I became an athlete. I don't like working out; I don't like anything that has to do with working physically."

"

Uh...what?

Williams, who has won 13 Grand Slam singles titles in her career, has been the most dominant player in women's tennis when she's been healthy. She lost three singles matches all of last year despite coming back from injury and made it to the U.S. Open final before losing to Samantha Stosur.

Now, after her words at the Brisbane International and yet another injury (this time rolling her ankle), you wonder if it's time for Williams to retire.

It's a tough thing to say. It's a tough thing to even think about. After all, losing someone like Williams would hurt the women's game even more, a women's game that still sports Caroline Wozniacki at No. 1 overall.

But, nonetheless, how can we expect Williams to even play at the best of her ability when she is clearly frustrated with the game? In addition to being 30 years old and having suffered numerous injuries, Williams has carried a lot of weight throughout her lifetime under her father and intense coach Richard.

Maybe it is time for Williams to go, not because we want her to, but because we want to see Serena Williams, rather than an uninspired version of herself.

I want to see the same Williams who has dominated throughout her career at the upcoming Australian Open. More importantly, however, I want to see the same dedicated Williams who has dominated throughout her career.

If she didn't love tennis after winning her first match of 2012, how must she be feeling now after sustaining yet another maddening injury?