PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 06: Serena Williams of USA plays a backhand during her Women's Singles fourth round match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan on day eight of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 06, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Cover PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 06: Serena Williams of USA plays a backhand during her Women's Singles fourth round match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan on day eight of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 06, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Serena Williams has become a household name, but what do you really know about her off the court? Here are five fun facts about the tennis superstar you may not have known:

There's no denying that Serena Williams is a tennis maven. While her stats and accomplishments have been covered by just about every newspaper and publication we can think of, it's now time to learn more about her life off the court.

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1. She went through a difficult pregnancy

In 2017, Serena Williams competed at (and won) the Australian Open while 20 weeks pregnant. A feat in itself, she later opened up to Vogue magazine about how difficult her delivery was. She'd had to get an emergency cesarean section as her baby's heart rate plunged. Afterwards, she developed blood clots in her lungs and had to get surgery to correct them. After she was discharged from a hospital, she spent six weeks unable to get out of bed, while also having to care for her newborn. "No one talks about the low moments," she'd told the magazine. "(The) incredible letdown every time you hear the baby cry ... Or I'll get angry about the crying, then sad about being angry, and then guilty, like, 'Why do I feel so sad when I have a beautiful baby?' The emotions are insane."

 

2. Her husband co-founded Reddit

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian tied the knot in November of 2017 and their wedding was attended by A-listers such as Beyonce, Anna Wintour, and Kim Kardashian. 

Ohanian, who previously worked as one of Reddit's co-founders, recently stepped down from his position and urged that his position be filled by a Black candidate

3. She started playing tennis at 3 years old

Talk about a tennis prodigy. The four-time Olympic gold medalist started playing tennis at just three years old, training for two hours every day with her father and older sister, Venus Williams. 

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4. She declined to be at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Williams had earlier qualified for a spot on the US team after the Italian Open in May but then said during Wimbledon that she would not be heading to Tokyo for the Olympics. Though she gave no specific reason, plenty of fans suspect it may be because she would be unable to bring her daughter with her to the games due to COVID-19 restrictions. "I haven’t spent 24 hours without [my daughter]," she'd earlier said in a press conference. Another possible reason for her absence in Tokyo? A leg injury she sustained back on 30 June 2021 during a match with Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

5. She has a stake in the Miami Dolphins

Tatler Asia
Venus Williams and Serena Williams during McDonald's Kicks Off World Children's Day 2004 at McDonald's store in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)
Above Venus Williams and Serena Williams during McDonald's Kicks Off World Children's Day 2004 at McDonald's store in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

A lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins, Serena and her sister Venus earlier purchased a minority stake on the NFL team, the Miami Dolphins, in 2009. The siblings are the first female African-American minority owners in the NFL and continue to hold a stake today (alongside other celebs such as Fergie, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony). 

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