It’s an odd year when nearly 31-year-old Serena Williams starts interviews with “I’m not retiring.” But who can blame her when 29-year-old Kim Clijsters announced last week that she would retire from singles after the U.S. Open.

Not 24 hours later, 30-year-old Andy Roddick added that it was his swan song as well. He plays today — read the US Open discussion of his chances here.

Serena is having one of her best years ever, and I would be surprised to see anyone beat her. She has come back from some major health problems, and had a disastrous French Open — losing in the opening round. She came back to win her fifth Wimbledon in record fashion with 24 services aces in one match and a record 102 in the tournament at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships. She also won the gold medal in the Olympics’ singles tournament and gold in the doubles with her sister Venus.

What’s to become of American tennis after Roddick leaves the game?  John Isner, 27, is moving up the ranks along with Jack Sock, 20.

On the women’s side, Sloane Stepens, 19, is making some waves as a younger American to be reckoned with. Her late father was a pro football player and her mom is a former All American swimmer.

Pam Parker has been a tennis player for more than 30 years. She is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.