Since returning from that hiatus, Williams is 1-3, including straight-set defeats against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic and 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in her two most recent outings.

There was a time — not all that long ago, in the scheme of things — that Williams was considered the favorite in every match and at every tournament, especially at the four events that matter the most in the sport.

"I say: Don't underestimate her," said Evert, an ESPN analyst. "But the problem is the field. The problem is everybody else is getting better, too. ... There's a lot of good players out there now who, No. 1, aren't intimidated by her; and No. 2, know that she's not at her best at the moment; and No. 3, want to beat her."

Two days before her loss to Bencic in Toronto, and a day before revealing her thoughts about retirement (a word she said she dislikes), Williams said at a news conference: "I can't do this forever." That's true, of course. No one, though, expects this to be the last the world hears of her, even if there really aren't any matches left to play.

"At the end of the day, her biggest stage was tennis," said Macci, the Williams' coach from years ago, "but I think her greatest act is yet to come."