Serena Williams still feels 'torn' about retirement: "Because I'm still able to play at a very, very, very high level"

Serena Williams announced she was retiring from tennis or evolving as she dubbed it after the US Open but has admitted that she is still playing and remains torn on retirement.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion said she feels at peace but believes she can still play at the top level so the bug still remains there.

But by the same token admits she would've rather walked away while at the top and while she is healthy.

"I for sure feel more at peace now. It's interesting. I think I feel torn because I'm still able to play at a very, very, very high level," said Williams to E!

"With that being said, I always wanted to leave the game playing at a very high level."

"I also wanted to walk away when I'm healthy and have a quality of life. But I'm inch by inch leaning away, inch by inch embracing it. I was playing earlier when I first retired because it was hard to do it cold turkey.

"But lately, I haven't played so much. And I miss it. I'm like, 'Oh my goodness. I gotta get out there'. But it's hard for me to get out there. I did play the other day, and it's just like, 'There's no way I shouldn't be playing professional tennis'. Like, there's literally no excuse.

"But I mean, I guess there is an excuse, right? It's hard because when I'm playing I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm pretty good at this. I can continue to do this,' which not a lot of people can say."