Breaking News: Serena Williams: Balancing Tennis Greatness and Motherhood….Read More

Serena Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, has not only redefined women’s tennis with her.

unparalleled power and tenacity but also reshaped the narrative of what it means to balance professional excellence with personal life.

Her journey through motherhood—marked by the births of her daughters, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in 2017 and Adira River Ohanian in 2023—prompted significant breaks from tennis, showcasing her ability to adapt, evolve, and prioritize family while leaving an indelible legacy in the sport.

The First Break: Welcoming Olympia
Serena Williams’ first major hiatus from professional tennis tied to motherhood came in 2017.

In January of that year, she won the Australian Open—her 23rd Grand Slam singles title—while unknowingly pregnant with her first child. The victory, which saw her defeat her sister Venus in the final, pushed her past Steffi Graf’s Open Era record and cemented her status as a tennis icon.

Shortly after, in April 2017, Williams announced her pregnancy, revealing she would step away from the tour for the remainder of the season.

On September 1, 2017, Williams gave birth to Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., named after her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

The delivery was far from routine. Williams underwent an emergency C-section after Olympia’s heart rate dropped during labor, followed by a life-threatening postpartum ordeal involving a pulmonary embolism—a condition she had faced before in 2011.

In a 2018 CNN opinion piece, she detailed how she nearly died, crediting her survival to her persistence in alerting medical staff and their eventual response. This experience not only highlighted her resilience but also fueled her advocacy for maternal healthcare equity.

Williams returned to competitive tennis in March 2018, just six months after giving birth. Her comeback was nothing short of remarkable.

Despite early struggles—such as a first-round loss at Indian Wells—she reached the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals later that year. At Wimbledon, she fell to Angelique Kerber, and at the U.S.

Open, she lost to Naomi Osaka in a match marred by controversy over a code violation dispute.

These runs, while not culminating in titles, showcased her determination to reclaim her elite form while adjusting to life as a mother.

She later told Vogue in 2018, “I dedicated [Wimbledon] to all the moms out there who’ve been through a lot. If I can do it, you guys can do it too.”

Motherhood shifted Williams’ priorities. She rearranged her training schedule to be home with Olympia by early afternoon, a stark contrast to her pre-motherhood regimen.

In a 2019 Forbes interview, she admitted, “Sometimes my heart literally aches when I’m not around her.” This emotional pull influenced her decision to favor day matches at tournaments like the U.S. Open, allowing her to spend evenings with her daughter.

Yet, her competitive fire remained—she chased a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title, reaching four major finals between 2018 and 2019 but falling short each time.

The Transition: Stepping Away After Olympia
By 2022, Williams signaled a more permanent shift. In an August Vogue essay, she announced she was “evolving away” from tennis—not retiring in the traditional sense, but stepping back to focus on family and other ventures, including growing her family further.

She wrote, “I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair.” At the time, Olympia was nearly five, and Williams expressed a desire for her daughter to have a sibling—a wish that foreshadowed her second pregnancy.

Her final competitive appearance came at the 2022 U.S. Open, where she defeated Danka Kovinić and Anett Kontaveit before losing to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round. The tournament doubled as a farewell celebration, with fans and peers honoring her 27-year career.

Olympia, then a spirited kindergartner, watched from the stands, a poignant symbol of why Williams was ready to close this chapter.

In a TIME interview that month, she shared Olympia’s reaction to her retirement: a fist-pumping “Yes!”—a bittersweet moment for Williams, who admitted it brought “anxiety to my heart.”

The Second Break: Adira’s Arrival
Williams’ second major break from tennis—or rather, her post-competitive life—aligned with the birth of her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, on August 15, 2023.

She announced her pregnancy at the 2023 Met Gala, stunning in a black Gucci gown that highlighted her baby bump.

The news came almost exactly a year after her U.S. Open swan song, underscoring her intent to prioritize family over a return to the court.

Adira’s birth was a smoother experience than Olympia’s, with Ohanian posting on Instagram, “I’m grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama.” Williams shared glimpses of her new family dynamic, including a touching moment when Olympia met her baby sister.

In an exclusive clip from the 2024 docuseries In The Arena: Serena Williams, Olympia’s ecstatic reaction to learning she’d be a big sister—screaming and racing around the room—captured the joy of this expansion.

Since Adira’s arrival, Williams has embraced motherhood fully while remaining active off the court.

She’s nurtured Olympia’s budding interests (tennis among them, though Olympia prefers princess games) and celebrated Adira’s milestones, like her first birthday in August 2024, where she noted the name “Adira” means “mighty” and “strong”—qualities reflective of Williams herself.

She’s also continued her business pursuits, including Serena Ventures and her fashion line, S by Serena, while advocating for causes like maternal health and pay equity in sports.

Legacy Beyond the Baseline
Williams’ breaks from tennis for her daughters weren’t just pauses—they were transformative periods that reshaped her legacy.

Her first break in 2017-2018 proved elite athletes could return from motherhood and compete at the highest level, inspiring figures like Allyson Felix, who cited Williams’ comeback as a blueprint for her own post-pregnancy Olympic success.

Her 2022 transition and subsequent focus on family with Adira’s birth in 2023 underscored her belief that greatness extends beyond trophies—to empowerment, family, and breaking barriers.

As of March 23, 2025, Williams has not returned to professional tennis, and there’s no indication she will.

Instead, she’s a courtside presence—cheering at events like the 2024 Paris Olympics—and a devoted mother, often sharing heartwarming moments with Olympia and Adira on social media. In a 2024 PEOPLE interview, she reflected, “My heart just got bigger” with Adira’s arrival, a sentiment echoing her evolution from a Compton prodigy to a global icon who mastered both the game and the art of living.

Serena Williams’ breaks for her daughters didn’t diminish her legend; they enriched it, proving that even the fiercest competitors can redefine victory on their own terms