Serena Williams announces second pregnancy as she ‘chooses’ against ‘building tennis resume’
Serena Williams has announced her second pregnancy at the Met Gala, revealing that she chose to ‘build her family’ over continuing her bid for more Grand Slam titles.
Williams gave birth to her first child Olympia in October 2017, and was actually in the early stages of pregnancy during her Australian Open triumph that year.
After showcasing her bump at the glamorous fashion event Williams said, “If I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy in a picture with her husband Alexis Ohanian, who is the co-founder of Reddit.
Serena Williams' Met Gala look is one for the ages 😍
She's announced she's expecting her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian 🤍
(h/t serenawilliams/IG) pic.twitter.com/2A6rbbM93e
— ESPN (@espn) May 2, 2023
The tennis legend announced that she would be ‘evolving away’ from tennis at the US Open last year, and while the 41-year-old hinted about a possible return this pregnancy news seems to have silenced that possibility.
Serena Williams at Grand Slams following pregnancy
Williams did not add to her Open Era record tally of major titles following giving birth to Olympia, and in fact only won one more career title when she beat Jessica Pegula in the Auckland final in 2020.
Here is how the former No.1 fared at major tournaments post pregnancy:
Overall Grand Slam win-loss record since pregnancy: 53-13 (80%)
Australian Open
Win-loss record since pregnancy: 11-3 (79%)
2019 – Lost in the quarter-final to Karolina Pliskova (7), 4-6 6-4 5-7
2020 – Lost in the third round to Qiang Wang (27), 4-6 7-6(2) 5-7
2021 – Lost in the semi-final to Naomi Osaka (3), 3-6 4-6
Roland Garros
Win-loss record since pregnancy: 9-2 (82%)
2018 – Gave a walkover to Maria Sharapova (28) in the fourth round
2019 – Lost in the third round to Sofia Kenin, 2-6 5-7
2020 – Gave a walkover in the second round to Tsvetana Pironkova (WC)
2021 – Lost in the fourth round to Elena Rybakina (21), 3-6 5-7
Wimbledon
Win-loss record since pregnancy: 14-4 (78%)
2018 – Lost in the final to Angelique Kerber (11), 3-6 3-6
2019 – Lost in the final to Simona Halep (7), 2-6 2-6
2021 – Lost in the first round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 3-3 (retired)
2022 – Lost in the first round to Harmony Tan, 5-7 6-1 6(7)-7
US Open
Win-loss record since pregnancy: 19-4 (83%)
2018 – Lost in the final to Angelique Kerber (11), 3-6 3-6
2019 – Lost in the final to Bianca Andreescu (15), 3-6 5-7
2020 – Lost in the semi-final to Victoria Azarenka, 6-1 3-6 3-6
2022 – Lost in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic, 5-7 7-6(4) 1-6
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