Serena Williams came into the spotlight when she gracefully lifted her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 1999. Since then, she has dominated women’s tennis for the next two decades. Till date, she has won an astonishing 23 Grand Slam titles in singles events. Apart from her lucrative professional career, Williams is also happily married to Alexis Ohanian.

Serena married the Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017. The beautiful couple also welcomed their first baby in the same year, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. The baby girl is often referred to as ‘Olympia’. Their second child Adira River was born in August 2023.

How did Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian meet?

The lovely story goes back to May 2015, when Williams and Ohanian stayed at the same hotel in Rome. Surprisingly, their first meeting was totally a coincidence, as Serena quoted. Williams said, “This 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?”

The couple ended up chatting together, and Williams even invited Ohanian to the French Open. Alexis flew specially to Paris to attend Serena Williams’ match. The pair spent around six hours together roaming around the city and eventually fell in love.

Soon after, Ohanian, who wasn’t a tennis fan, started closely following the sport. In September 2015, the pair made it official as Alexis posted a picture from US Open.

After staying together for one year, Ohanian proposed to Serena at the same place the couple first incidentally met, Cavalieri Hotel. Alexis had organised a perfect setting for his perfect day, complete with a plastic rat, which was a reminder of the real rat which had started off their initial conversation.

Williams and Alexis’ Wedding

On November 16, 2017 Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian tied the knot in New Orleans, America. Serena wore an Alexander McQueen ballgown designed by Sarah Burton, the same designer who designed Kate Middleton’s wedding gown in 2011.

The bride switched into two Versace costumes for the reception: a beaded gown and a short feathered gown. The guests list included some big celebrities such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian.

The couple welcomes their first child, Olympia

Just months before their wedding, Williams and Ohanian welcomed their first baby girl, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Not only is she named after her father, but her initials (AO) are also a tribute to Serena Williams’ 2017 Australian Open victory, which she won while pregnant.

“Welcome, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., we’re so happy to meet you. Our little girl is already mama’s perfect sidekick,” Ohanian posted on his Instagram.

Soon after, in January 2018, Serena Williams and baby Olympia graced the front page of Vogue magazine. Olympia’s Instagram account shared a picture with caption, “I can’t wait for my next one maybe one day. My mom and dad always did tell me to dream big. But for now I am told I am the youngest Vogue cover ever at 3 months!”

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have been a fan favorite couple since day one. The pair regularly shares their pictures together, sometimes with the baby, as they spend quality time together.