Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian: The Sweet Life of Parents to Two Daughters

 

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian are proud parents of two beautiful daughters. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., known as Olympia, in September 2017. Five years later, in August 2023, their family grew with the birth of their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian.

 

In an April 2024 interview with Byrdie, Williams, who retired from tennis in September 2022, revealed that her greatest source of happiness in life is her children. “I can’t say that a Wimbledon trophy compares to volunteering at my daughter’s school,” she confessed. “I also hope my daughters see how many different passions I have, from tennis to beauty, and learn that they can lead dynamic lives through their many interests.”

 

Despite being open about her struggles with motherhood, Williams also acknowledges the joy that comes with this significant life change. “I’ve been so focused on my career my whole life, but when I started a family and got married, I realized there’s so much more to life. And that was great,” she shared in a PEOPLE interview in January 2021.

 

Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., 6

 

Williams and Ohanian’s eldest daughter, Olympia, was born on September 1, 2017, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Ohanian announced the news on Instagram, expressing his joy: “Welcome, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., we’re so happy to meet you… Our little girl is already mama’s perfect sidekick.”

 

Williams announced her pregnancy by sharing a photo of her 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 bump on Snapchat when she was 20 weeks along. Later, she revealed to Vanity Fair that she found out she was pregnant just before competing in the 2017 Australian Open, which she won.

 

“[I] did a double take and my heart dropped. Like literally dropped,” she recalled. Although the couple decided not to learn the 𝓈ℯ𝓍 of their 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢, Ohanian mentioned on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that they both suspected they were having a girl.

 

Williams has been candid about her complicated birthing experience, which included an emergency cesarean section and postpartum surgeries. “My whole life I’ve been physically pushing my body to the limits, but this was the first time where I couldn’t control anything,” she explained in an interview.

 

 

By the age of four, Olympia began taking piano lessons and developed a strong love for music over sports. “She likes tennis, but I don’t know. Honestly, she likes playing piano,” Williams said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “When she was in my belly, I played a lot of piano music.”

 

Olympia’s interests also include ballet, soccer, virtual reality gaming, and golf lessons with her dad. Ohanian commented that they love watching their daughter explore her various passions. “I think she’s a mix of both creative and athletic,” he said.

 

During an interview, Williams shared that Olympia also has an eye for fashion. “She always sets out what we need to wear in the morning before bed,” she revealed. “She always tells me what to wear.”

 

The mother-daughter duo is often seen twinning in photos. Olympia even accompanied her mother at Paris Fashion Week in April 2022 and on the cover of Vogue in August 2022.

 

 

Although Olympia has been following in her mother’s footsteps and playing tennis since she was a toddler, Williams revealed that “she doesn’t actually like to play tennis too much.” “That’s a little disappointing for me, but she’s actually really good at it,” she added in 2023.

 

Despite this, Olympia is already a co-owner of two sports teams. At 2½, she became a co-owner of the women’s soccer team Angel City FC and later the Los Angeles Golf Club. “All Olympia knows is that Angel City FC is our team, and she loves cheering for them,” Ohanian said.

 

Although Williams does not celebrate Olympia’s birthday due to her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness, they still enjoy special outings. In September 2023, Ohanian took Olympia to Home Depot for a painting session, sharing photos from the event on Instagram.

 

Adira River Ohanian, 1

 

The couple’s second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, was born on August 15, 2023. “I’m grateful to report our house is teeming with love: a happy and healthy newborn girl and a happy and healthy mama,” Ohanian wrote on Instagram just days after her birth.

 

On Adira’s first birthday, Williams shared the special meaning behind her daughter’s name. “Adira is a girl’s name of Hebrew origin and means ‘mighty,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘majestic,’” she explained on Instagram.

 

 

The tennis star announced her pregnancy during the Met Gala in May 2023, and the couple revealed the 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢’s 𝓈ℯ𝓍 with a drone display. Ohanian said, “No one’s more excited” than Olympia about the pregnancy news. “She’s been wanting this,” he added.

 

After Adira was born, Williams gave fans a glimpse into her newborn’s nursery in a YouTube video. “A little history about this room, this actually used to be Olympia’s room,” she shared.

 

In summary, the family life of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian is a beautiful balance between Williams’s career and her role as a mother. As their daughters grow and explore their interests, the couple continues to support each other on this exciting journey of parenthood.