Serena Williams’ Marriage Is Beautiful, Strange And Perfect
Few athletes are as fascinating as Serena Williams. Rightly praised and often wrongly criticized, the tennis icon shocked the world when she announced her pregnancy after winning the Australian Open. Then she married the co-founder of Reddit and the world lost its mind. Then we realized how perfect these two are for each other and everything was okay again. After reading this, you'll believe their love for each other is as genuine as we do. Only true love would make the co-founder of Reddit rent four billboards to declare his love.
It Was Not Love At First Sight
On the day Serena Williams met Alexis Ohanian in 2015, her friends were actually trying to get him away from her. The group was having breakfast together when Ohanian sat down next to Williams even though there were plenty other seats available.
William's friends told Ohanian there were rats where he was sitting. He responded, "Is there really a rat here? I'm from Brooklyn, I see rats all the time." The nonchalant answer intrigued Williams, who invited her new friend to come and sit with her old friends. And just like that, their relationship began.
They Kept Their Romance A Secret
Williams and Ohanian dated for 15 months before they let anyone know. Once he proposed, there was no reason to hide anymore. The news shocked the world. Before the announcement, Williams had been linked to both Drake and Common. No one suspected she would ever fall in love with a tech guy!
As for Ohanian, he had just ended a five year relationship when he met Williams. He had been dating his college sweetheart and microbiologist Sabriya Stukes. Only one time in their 15 month courtship were Williams and Ohanian ever linked together.
A Shocking Pregnancy Reveal
Fans weren't the only people shocked to find out Williams was pregnant. She learned herself right before she was scheduled to participate in the Australian Open! To make sure, she took six pregnancy tests, which all showed the same result. Determined to compete still, she got a doctors approval.
When the world found out she competed and won, while pregnant, they were outraged. Even after Williams assured everyone that she was medically cleared to play, she was still labeled as irresponsible by naysayers. It didn't help that her pregnancy reveal was an accidental Snapchat baby bump selfie!
They Had No Idea Who The Other Was
Amazingly, both Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams say they never knew who the other person was before they met. Ohanion told Vanity Fair that he thought he was talking to Serena Williams, but he wasn't a tennis fan so her wasn't sure.
Serena also admitted she had never heard of Reddit before meeting Ohanian. She did lie about it once, though. When Ohanian asked her one day what she thought of that site, she said she had just logged off it. She then couldn't provide any further details.
They Took A Trip To Paris Together For Their First Date
A few weeks after they met, Williams and Ohanian went on their first date. The tennis icon was getting ready to compete in the French Open and invited Ohanian to join for a romantic weekend together. Ohanian accepted, because who would say no to Williams, but said he didn't have high expectations.
He knew that that even if she blew him off, he would still end up with an amazing story to tell his friends. Luckily for Ohanian, Williams kept her promise and they visited a zoo, several shops, and the Eiffel Tower.
He Proposed With a Rat
After spending a year with Williams, Ohanian knew he wanted to marry her. For their one year anniversary, he invited her to Rome, where he set up a trail of rose petals leading her to the spot they first met. There was even a plastic rat on the table just for fun!
Williams said yes, and announced the engagement on Reddit. In the post, she referred to herself as the "Future Mrs. kn0thing," using a play on Ohanian's username. At the bottom of the post, Ohanian wrote, "And you made me the happiest man on the planet."
Williams Suffered Health Problems During Childbirth
When Williams introduced her daughter, Olympia, to the world in September 2017, she kept the health complications she endured during her pregnancy a secret. A few months later she finally revealed that her heart rate dropped during contractions and emergency C-section had to be performed.
Her first week as a new mother, Williams had shortness of breath and blood clots in her lungs. Her coughing became so violent her C-section wound re-opened. She took six weeks to recover from another surgery before she could begin performing her duties as a mother again. saying, "I was happy to change diapers."
Olympia's First Movie Was A Loud One
Before the couple got married, they took Olympia to her first movie. Ohanian rented out an entire theater so the family could see Thor: Ragnorak together, because Serena "really wanted to see her other man." They knew the movie would be loud and violent, and planned accordingly.
In a video posted online before the film started, they let audiences know that Olympia had ear muffs, and that Ohanian would cover her eyes when things got to violent. The cute video ends with Serena asleep on Ohanian's shoulder. Our hearts have officially melted.
They're Huge Disney Nerds
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian LOVE Disney. Instead of having a traditional wedding, they had a Beauty and the Beast themed, star-studded affair. Everyone was there, including Beyonce. As guests entered the occasion, they were treated to the song "Be Our Guest."
Having such a non-traditional wedding was very important to Williams. After the couple exchanged self-written vows, they shared their first dance together with the song, "Tale as Old as Time" and "If I Can't Have You." Before the night ended, Ohanian surprised Williams with an all-white carousel.
Williams Return To Tennis Featured Another Outrageous Gift By Ohanian
As Williams was gearing up for her return to tennis in February 2018, Ohanian designed and paid to have four billboards put up in her honor. Each giant billboard had a picture of Olympia and Serena and read "G.MO.A.T" or "greatest momma of all-time."
A few days later, Williams re-emerged on the tennis court with her family proudly watching from the stands. In her first match, she defeated Zarina Diyas. She would not go on to win the tournament, but she won the crowd over with athleticism and undeniable charm.
Their Love Is Perfect
It's okay to be jealous of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. Their love is pure and perfect. They post the cutest and funniest videos of their adventures online for all of us to see. If you haven't, you have to watch the one where they bust out some crazy dance moves while listening to New Edition.
In a 2017 Instagram post, Williams got really sappy, writing, "He's my rock my backbone my love. I am so lucky to have found this wonderful man that treats me better than a queen. I love you Alexis you make me excited to wake up every morning knowing I'll get to see you."
Serena Has Admitted Struggling With Motherhood
So far we've painted a pretty perfect picture of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. The truth is every relationship has its ups and downs, and after Williams gave birth, she slipped into depression. She told Vogue, "No one talks about the low moments — the pressure you feel, the incredible letdown every time you hear the baby cry."
She also admitted that she would get mad when Olympia would cry, then feel guilty about feeling mad. The wave of emotions she felt becoming a mother surprised her, but if anyone is equipped to handle those emotions it's her.
Her Tennis Ranking Fell To 453 When She Returned
Serena Williams was the number-one ranked tennis player in the world after winning the French Open and announcing her pregnancy. Taking so much time off crushed her ranking, sending her all the way to 453. When the ranking was announced, the tennis world fought back on her behalf.
Many female players believed she was being unfairly punished with her ranking for having a child. A discussion even started regarding a rule change to accommodate female tennis stars when they become pregnant. Simona Helep even commented, "It's normal to give birth. It’s normal to have a protected ranking... It’s more than tennis."
Alexis Ohanian's Most Romantic Gesture Will Surprise You
Alexis Ohanian is incredibly supportive of Serena Williams. He believes that men should champion the women in their lives, even when they're more successful. That's why he believes the most romantic thing he's ever done for Serena is to just be there for her.
That's right, he knows the billboards are nice and so are trips to Italy, but nothing beats just letting her know he loves her. Speaking with Good Morning America he said, "I think the most romantic thing I've ever done was just showing up and doing my job as a husband and a father... the fundamentals, which is just being there."
Williams Never Thought She'd Marry A White Person
Say what you want about how far society has come, some people are still surprised when interracial couples marry. Williams admitted as much with The New York Times, saying she never though she would "marry a white guy." At the end of day, though, love is all that matters.
Going further, the star explained, "I'm an athlete. He's a business guy. I'm black. He's white. We are totally opposite. I think we just complement each other. I think we understand hard work in different ways."
Ohanian Wants To Be His Best Self For Williams
Ever since going to that first tennis match, Alexis Ohanian has been hooked on Serena Williams. He literally went from tennis "know-nothing" to the sports number-one fan. It helps when your wife is the best tennis player of all-time!
Ohanian knew pretty quickly that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Williams. They met in 2015, and by 2016 he was ready to propose. He told Vanity Fair, "I felt like a door had been opened to a person who made me want to be my best self."
Williams Posted Their First Couple Photo In November 2016
For over a year, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian kept their relationship a secret. He proposed in December 2016 in Rome. Less than one month before then, in November, Serena posted the first picture of them together as a couple online.
In the utterly adorable photo, Williams and Ohanian are at a costume party together wearing bear themed outfits. In the actual photo, Williams didn't say anything about them being a couple. All she wrote was, "Bear necessities." Even without a true confirmation, the writing was firmly on the wall.
Serena Believes She's The Greatest Athlete Of All-Time
While many analysts consider Serena Williams to be the greatest tennis player of all-time, few are willing to put her in the conversation for greatest athlete of all-time. According to Williams, it's because she's a woman, "If I were a man, then it wouldn't be any sort of question."
She has a point. Williams won her first Grand Slam at 17 years old and is still winning Grand Slams into her late 30s. She has the most titles ever in the open ear, and it's not even close. She's also earned $84 million in winnings, Yeah, she's the G.O.A.T.
Williams Is Worth Over $100 Million More Than Ohanian
Alexis Ohanian is worth $9 million. After selling Reddit, he founded Initialized, a company focused on funding startups. Since starting the venture he has helped launch Coinbase for Bitcoin, as well as Instacart, a popular app where you can grocery shop from the convenience of your couch.
Serena Williams is worth $150 million. She has earned nearly $90 million in tournament winnings, and another $60 million in sponsorships. And if you think Ohanian is jealous at all that his wife is clearly the breadwinner in the relationship, then you clearly haven't been reading this slideshow.
Williams Took Her First Pregnancy Test At A Lingerie Event
Serena first suspected she might be pregnant when she began feeling "off." She bought a pregnancy test and ended up taking it just before an event for lingerie company Berlei, who she's a spokesperson for. The news made her do a double take and she says her heart dropped.
These days, Williams can laugh about it, telling Vanity Fair, "'I was getting the styling done. An hour and a half later, I went back to the bathroom and I totally forgot about it... So I went back to get dressed and I went back in the bathroom and I was like, 'Oh yeah, that test.'"
Alexis Admits That His Relationship With Serena Has Been Humbling
Even though Ohanian has had an unbelievably successful business career, being married to Serena has shown him how difficult it is to be a professional athlete. In an interview with The New York Times, Ohanian claimed that "I thought I was the hardest-working person on the planet. I thought we were the hardest-working industry. That's what we tell ourselves. It’s all malarkey."
He's seen what it takes to be the best in the world at something, and he admits that it's a lot harder than some people give it credit to be. Just another reason why he loves Serena so much.
Serena's Romantic Past
Before falling for Ohanian, Serena had dated other public figures in the past. She once dated Drake and Common, both famous rappers and key figures in the hip-hop and music production industry.
Clearly, the two are very different from the man that she ended up with, as both of her former flings were somewhat controversial in the public eyes, unlike Ohanian. Although Common is much calmer and more ready to settle down than Drake, things still didn't work out between the two. And we're glad Ohanian is glad it didn't!
They Were Married Rather Quickly
From the time it took them to start dating and when they were officiallty married wasn't terribly long by today's standards. They first met in 2015 but were married in 2017, many people today date for two years with no plans for marriage.
When they walked down the aisle, people all over the world wondered if maybe that had been in over their heads by getting married so soon. Luckily, it worked out for the two of them and they appear to be happily married.
Serena Took A Beating On Social Media
Social media can be an incredibly dark place, filled with angry people that follow others just to make themselves mad and lash out. This was what had happened to Serena during her pregnancy. When certain photos were posted on social media, people began commenting about her weight gain and even making racial slurs and derogatory comments about the couple's mixed relationship.
Thankfully, Serena's fans stepped in and defended her, subduing the haters. Serena openly thanked her fans for their defense, proving they will stand by her no matter what.
She's Inspired Him To Stay Fit
For obvious reasons, Alexis' line of work isn't necessarily as connected to staying fit as Serena's. While she's exercising every day, becoming as fit as possible, Alexis is on the computer. So, in order to make sure that her man is healthy, fit, and happy, she has encouraged him to lead a more active lifestyle.
From when the two started dating until now, pictures have revealed that Ohanian has been going to the gym frequently and taking his health seriously. After all, it would be hard not to if your wife is a professional athlete.
Serena's Father Didn't Walk Her Down The Aisle
In the wake of the drama about Meghan Markle's father not attending the royal wedding, Serena Williams opened up about how her father was not there to walk her down the aisle either. She confessed that her father informed her just an hour before the wedding that he would not be there to hand her off. He was in New Orleans, had a suit, and was ready to go until he suddenly backed out.
He wrote her saying "Serena, I don't want you to be mad at me, but I just can't walk you down the aisle. I'm not myself anymore. I'm just too nervous." Although this might have been stressful to most brides, Serena kept her cool and was more than understanding.
Her Wedding Ring Was Gorgeous
On November 22, 2017, Serena showed off her dazzling wedding ring along with a picture of her adorable daughter Alexis. The ring is an emerald cut diamond ring with an eternity band that had a teardrop concave.
This created the look of a halo around the large center stone. To make the ring even more impressive, the tip of the teardrop was three more pear cut stones. The ring itself was was 14 karats with the actual wedding band being made by XIV Karats LTD.
No Birthday Parties For Their Daughter
Although their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., turned one year old on September 1, 2018, the family didn't throw an elaborate party as many people would assume. Serena explained that "Olympia doesn't celebrate birthdays [...] We're Jehova's Witnesses so we don't do that." Jehova's Witnesses don't celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and other holidays because the religion believes that specific celebrations displease God.
They feel that every day should be appreciated and celebrated without picking favorites. While some may think her religion might affect her marriage, she claims that " Alexis didn't grow up going to any church, but he's really receptive and even takes the lead. He puts my needs first."
The Couple's Honeymoon Was Dreamy To Say The Least
Serena and Alexis decided on the Bahamas to enjoy their honeymoon together. Amazingly enough, anyone can stay where they stayed, as long as you have $35,000 a week to shell out. The couple stayed at the Kamalame Cay Resort, just off of the Andros Great Barrier Reef.
The couple brought along their infant daughter to the honeymoon at their four-room oceanfront villa. This was a perfect place for the new family to relax, enjoy each other's company, and take a breather from all of the chaos in the outside world.
Ohanian Speaks Out For Paid Family Leave
Although Ohanian was lucky enough to be his own boss and incredibly wealthy at the time of his daughter's birth, that's certainly not the case for everyone. Since then, he has become a an advocate for a law mandating family leave for mothers and fathers.
In an op-ed for The Hill, he wrote that "being able to be present with my family was a privilege that unfortunately many parents in this country are not afforded [...] "To have those moments and feel that closeness was just spectacular and there are things we have with each other that I'm grateful for."
She Felt Like She Was Fighting For All Women On Her Road To Recovery
Even after the whole ordeal regarding her ranking, the French Tennis Federation announced that it was banning the Nike full-suit that Williams played in throughout 2018. However, the suit was necessary for medical reasons as a precaution to help prevent blood clots. Serena commented that "It feels like this suit represents all the women that have been through a lot mentally, physically, with their body to come back and have confidence and to believe in themselves."
In reference to the film Black Panther, she continued saying "I call it, like, my Wakanda-inspired catsuit...I'm always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero and it's kind of my way of being a superhero."
Hasn't Missed A Day Without Her Daughter
Amazingly, considering how busy Serena is and how much traveling she does, she hasn't gone a day without seeing her daughter since she's been born. of course, this is also to the credit of her highly reliable staff. Already, Alexis Jr. has traveled to North Carolina, all over California, France, England Miami, Ohio, New York, the Bahamas.
Little Alexis has already been more places than a lot of adults, and she's barely even one year old! She claims that Being around her every day is super important, and I want her to have just a great upbringing, the best way that I know how."
Serena Started The Hashtag #ThisMama
Recently, Serena started the hashtag #ThisMama on social media to post about her experiences being a mother and to encourage others to do the same. She stated that Kids humble us. The other day on a flight home Olympia had so much energy and insisted on running up and down the aisle.
When I finally got her to calm down and sit still, she threw up all over me and in the aisle." She shared her story and wants the hashtag to become a platform for all mothers (and fathers) to share their experiences being a parent to create a sense of community for everyone.
She Had A Hard Choice When It Came To Losing Weight
While in the process of trying to lose weight in order to get back on her game, she was forced with a choice that broke her heart. When it became apparent that breastfeeding was holding her back from losing weight, something she needed to do in order to get back on top.
She opened up and said that "I literally sat Olympia in my arms, and I talked to her, and we prayed about it [...} And I told her, 'Look, I'm going to stop. And Mommy has to do this.' And I cried a little bit, not as much as I thought I was. And she was fine."
She Wants Her Daughter To Learn From Her Mistakes
While Serena has made it clear that she's comfortable in her own skin, she's been trying to get back into shape extra-hard simply to play tennis. However, it wasn't always that way. Back in 2004, Serena publicly expressed that she desired to be a size 4.
Looking back, Serena can't believe that she felt that way about herself, yet, she feels that it was an important step. She claims that "I love that I said that because I can understand. I can show Olympia that I struggled, but now I'm happy with who I am and what I am and what I look like..."
Serena And Ohanian Thought About Picking Up Their Life And Starting Fresh
While her rise back to the talk, her marriage, and the birth of her child has been the talk of the town, Serena was also having doubt about getting back into the game. Like most other parents that are doing what they love and have kids, it's hard to not be around them all the time.
In an interview with Vogue, Serena admitted that "To be honest, there's something really attractive about the idea of moving to San Francisco and just being a mom." This way the family could start fresh and be close to the Reddit headquarters where Ohanian had been previously located.
Talking About Another Child
Although this was before Serena made the Wimbledon final, it's clear that the couple have had thoughts about growing their family. Earlier in the summer of 2018, she told InStyle that if she wasn't still playing and working hard, then she'd definitely already be pregnant again with another baby.
She also claimed that she couldn't say for sure that she would still want to play after having another child. Having one has already taken a toll on her as a professional athlete and as a mother, so two might be a little much.
She Relies On Her Family And Friends For Advice
As we've already mentioned, Serena has suffered from postpartum depression since the birth of her little girl. She feels like she isn't being the best mom that she can although she's proven otherwise. She notes that she reads on the issue frequently and how sometimes the symptoms of her depression can last for years.
So, she's created a support group for herself for advice and comfort. She spoke out on Instagram saying "I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal."
Being Serena
In May 2018, the documentary series Being Serena was released on HBO and partnered with IMG's Original Content group. Being Serena provides an inside look into the personal life of Serena during her pregnancy, marriage, and experiences balancing being a new mother and one of the world's greatest professional athletes have to have ever lived.
The show also gives a first-person perspective into her growth from being just a tennis player into a businesswoman, investor, and a major force in the worlds of technology, fashion, fitness, and philanthropy.
Serena Wanted To Show Her Real Self
Apparently, it was Serena who approached HBO with the idea for the miniseries. She says that she remembered all of the footage her father had of her mother when she was pregnant and had her, so she wanted the same for her daughter. She also saw it as an opportunity for the world to see her for who she really is.
She admits that "A lot of people see me on the court, and they only judge and see that side of me, and there's so much more to my life and to me [...] That’s not me, actually to be honest, on the court. As much a part of my life as it is, I become a different person when I play tennis. This series was the perfect opportunity to prove otherwise.
