Grand Slam Mama: Serena Williams announces second pregnancy

May 03, 2023
Williams stuns on the Met Gala red carpet with her growing baby bump. Source: Getty

Game, set, match – Serena Williams is acing parenthood once again!

The tennis legend and her Reddit co-founder husband, Alexis Ohanian, are expecting their second child together. It’s a love match for the couple, who tied the knot back in 2017 and are already proud parents to their 5-year-old daughter, Olympia.

Williams served up the exciting news on Instagram ahead of her appearance at the 2023 Met Gala, posting a series of photos showing off her growing baby bump.

“Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala,” she captioned her photo.

 

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Williams is not only expanding her family but also her personal “evolution”.

Last year, the tennis superstar shared an inspiring essay with Vogue, in which she expressed her desire to retire from the sport that made her a household name and focus on her family.

In her essay, she wrote: “Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair.”

“If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family. Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity.”

Williams said she struggled to admit it’s time to step away from the sport she loves so dearly, crying every time it’s mentioned.

“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people,” she explained.

“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”

The former world No.1 also expressed her disappointment that she won’t surpass former Australian tennis champion, Margaret Court’s 24 grand slam record.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the “open era” that began in 1968,” she wrote.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously, I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her.

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth,” she continued.

“But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually, it’s extraordinary.

“But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter.”