The essence
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In September 2017, Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, welcomed their first child, daughter Olympia.
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In August 2023, their family was expanded by a daughter, Adira.
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Both girls have already played tennis with their champion mother.
In addition to being an outstanding athlete, Serena Williams is also a wonderful mother of two children: daughters Olympia and Adira.
The legendary tennis player and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, welcomed their first child, Olympia Ohanian, in September 2017. The couple married a few months later in a lavish ceremony in New Orleans, where, according to an Instagram post shortly after the wedding, Williams' mother carried baby Olympia down the aisle before the vows were exchanged. Their youngest daughter, Adira Ohanian, was born in August 2023, bringing their happy family of four to four.
Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., Serena Williams, and Alexis Ohanian at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Williams, the only tennis player to have won the Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, is perhaps best known for her talent on the court. But beyond her beloved sport, starting a family has become one of her greatest treasures. "My whole life, I've been focused on my career, but when I had a family and got married, I realized there was so much more to life. And that was great," Williams told the publication. People in January 2021.
In November 2025, she shared an adorable photo of herself and Adira on the tennis court, captioning the Instagram post: "This is me sharing my passion for tennis with my youngest daughter." Perhaps it was her passion for tennis with her daughters that inspired Williams to return to the sport—she announced her return on June 1, 2026, to play doubles at the WTA 500 Queen's Club in London, according to the publication. People .
From legendary athlete to devoted mother, Williams juggles it all. Here's everything you need to know about Serena Williams' two children, Olympia and Adira.
Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
Olympia Ohanian and her mother Serena Williams in May 2025. Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/FilmMagic
Williams and Ohanian welcomed their first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on September 1, 2017. She was born at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although she is named after her father, her parents usually call her Olympia.
The tennis star learned of her pregnancy shortly before her victory at the 2017 Australian Open. "I was in shock, my heart sank. Literally," she said. Vanity Fair about the moment she found out she was going to be a mother. At first, she didn't believe the pregnancy test results, so she took five more, the magazine reports. When they all came back positive, she believed it.
Williams said People magazine about her birth, which was complicated by an emergency cesarean section and blood clots that required subsequent surgeries. Nevertheless, the new mother fondly recalled meeting Olympia after this "difficult" ordeal. "I remember the first day [Olympia] came and slept with me; it was just an incredible feeling.".
Serena Williams and her family at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Young Olympia has many hobbies, including tennis, but she may not follow in the footsteps of her famous mother and aunt, Venus. Although she's been taking tennis lessons almost since she could walk, the 8-year-old "really doesn't like playing tennis that much," Williams told Norah O'Donnell on CBS News. "It's a little disappointing, but she's actually really good at it," she added.
Tennis aside, a quick glance at Olympia's Instagram account reveals that she has inherited her mother's athletic abilities: she spent time on the golf course, took ballet classes, ran sprints, and played soccer.
She also inherited her mother's interest in fashion. In 2022, she joined Williams at Paris Fashion Week, where she wore a miniature version of her mother's hot pink Balmain dress, as seen in a photo the tennis player posted on Instagram. Williams previously said InStyle , Olympia has an opinion about what her mother wears. "She helps me stay humble... She can be like, 'Oh, that's terrible,'" Williams said.
Alexis Ohanian with his eldest daughter, Olympia, whom he shares with Serena Williams, in June 2026. Photo: @alexisohanian
Being her fashion critic is just one way Olympia and Williams have bonded. The mother values the opportunity to be close to her daughters, and in an interview with Michelle Obama during a special live broadcast of the program IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson in 2026 (quote from People ) She said: "I'm never gone for more than 24 hours. I didn't leave Olympia alone for 24 hours until she was 6. Maybe that's a little extreme, but that's how I am.".
Olympia looked like a mini-me version of her mom when she accompanied her to her aunt, Venus Williams, at her wedding in December 2025. The beaming sister of the bride posted a series of family photos on her Instagram a month after the five-day wedding celebration in Palm Beach, Florida, showing Olympia and Adira in matching baby blue dresses.
«"Joy doesn't always scream, sometimes it whispers. It's important to savor these beautiful moments... I love this photo so much, I wanted to share it with you. 🫶🏿," Serena wrote in the caption.
Adira Ohanyan River
Olympia Ohanian and her younger sister, Adira River Ohanian, in August 2023. Photo: Instagram/@olympiaohanian
Nearly six years after Olympia's birth, Williams and Ohanian gave her a big sister. Adira River Ohanian was born on August 15, 2023. Williams first announced her pregnancy at the Met Gala in May 2023, where Ohanian tenderly cradled her belly while posing for photos. In a since-deleted social media post, Williams wrote that she was "so excited when Anna Wintour invited the three of us to the Met Gala," according to The New York Times .
In an Instagram post published on Adira's first birthday, the athlete explained that her daughter's name has special significance for her. "Adira is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning 'mighty,' 'strong,' and 'majestic,'" she wrote in the caption.
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams at the 2023 Met Gala. Photo: Christopher Polk/WWD via Getty Images
At just two years old, Adira has already proven herself to be a "tough cookie," according to her mother. "Olympia is very hard to keep up with, but I'm telling you, Adira did it, and it's just incredible," Williams said. People magazine in 2024. "She's amazing. I just can't wait for people to see how amazing she is in her own way. And she's so special and so strong [...] in that way, she reminds me a lot of me.".
Like her mother and older sister, Adira already has her own opinion about fashion. "When Olympia was about 15 months old, she would go to her closet and pick out something," Williams previously said. InStyle publication . "It sounds weird, and I thought maybe I was making it up until Adira did the same thing at about the same age.".
The little girl is also an accomplished tennis player. In November 2024, Williams posted a touching video on Instagram of herself and Adira playing on clay. The clip shows the then-one-year-old throwing one of her mother's tennis balls toward the fence, with Williams following her and laughing. "When is too early?" the proud mom captioned the post. In the comments, fans couldn't help but wonder if the Ohanian sisters would become the next Venus and Serena.
Adira Ohanian sits in a trash bin at an airport in October 2025. Photo: @serenawilliams
When Adira isn't playing tennis, she enjoys adventures with her family. In October 2025, Williams shared a sweet photo from their trip on her Instagram, showing the two-year-old happily sitting in a plastic tray while going through airport security. Earlier that year, the toddler also spent quality time with her mother and sister, visiting Niagara Falls.
On Easter Sunday 2026, Williams posted a rare photo of her daughters and husband on her Instagram. "I don't often share moments like this, but being their mom is my favorite thing ever. I get to be with them 363 days out of 365—and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This weekend was absolutely amazing," she wrote in the caption. In the photos, Olympia poses and gives her sister the peace sign, while in another adorable shot, Adira runs out of frame.
Read the original article on InStyle.