Serena Williams has long been celebrated as one of the greatest athletes in the world, and with a gold-medal-winning career spanning over two decades, it’s easy to see why she has quickly become a legend in the tennis world.
Whether you’re a die-hard follower of the women’s tennis world or just a casual viewer of the latest grand slam, her name is instantly recognisable, but despite her fame, there’s one aspect of her life that’s surprisingly less publicised – her ongoing romance with husband Alexis Ohanian.
Who is Serena Williams’ husband?
Serena Williams is currently married to 42-year-old entrepreneur and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
The couple reportedly first crossed paths at Rome’s Cavalieri Hotel in May 2015, with Serena visiting the city while she was competing in the Italian Open.
While staying at the hotel, Serena and Alexis met over breakfast, with Serena telling Vanity Fair, “This big guy comes and he just plops down at the table next to us, and I’m like, ‘Huh! All these tables and he’s sitting here?'”
Unhappy with the interruption, Serena’s group tried to deter him by suggesting there was a rat nearby, however, Alexis called their bluff, and Serena eventually invited him to sit with them.
Despite their awkward introduction, the pair exchanged numbers and quickly hit it off, with the couple reuniting later that year at the French Open. Two years later, Serena and Alexis tied the knot at the Contemporary Art Centre in New Orleans in November 2017.
Reflecting on their partnership in 2019, Serena told Allure, “Oprah said, ‘Never let anyone dim your light.’ That really stuck with me. Alexis doesn’t dim my light. He doesn’t try to dim my light. He puts me in the light, even if I don’t want to be.”
“He pushes me to further points I never thought about. It always was something that I could see in some relationships – my light would be dimmer. Now, I feel like I can shine really bright and still do everything that I want to do.”
Does Serena Williams have children?
Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian share two daughters, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, 7, and Adria River Ohanian, 1.
The couple welcomed their first child, who is referred to by her middle name Olympia, on September 1, 2017. Explaining the inspiration behind her daughter’s name, Serna told The Shine Series, “I wanted her to have a name that could help her when she’s facing tough times.”
“If you’re a woman or if you’re a woman of colour, you really need to be strong and you need to stand up, and you can’t allow anything to run you over.”
In August 2023, Serena and Alexis welcomed their youngest daughter, Adria River – marking the moment with an adorable family photo on Instagram.
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