38-year-old Serena Williams stopped playing on the tour junior while she was ranked number one in the USA in the category of under-10. Instead, she opted to concentrate on her studies and alongside that, her father Richard Williams worked incessantly to launch Serena on the senior tour.
Former World Number one Williams didn’t experience junior tennis as she turned professional while she was 14-years old. By doing so, she did not have the opportunity to serve the circuit as a ball kid. But she gained experience in the ball kid’s job, while she was pregnant with her daughter Alexis Olympia.
Serena Williams on her ball girl experience
Serena was asked: “Have you ever been a ball kid even if not in a big tournament or for Venus in practice or something?”
She replied, “I don’t think so at a tournament. I have been a ball kid in practice a zillion times over, but I was a ball kid a lot when I was pregnant. Yeah, I don’t think I was ever a ball kid.”
Unlike Serena, 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer had the opportunity to be a ball kid. He was a ball boy for two years at his home-town tournament Swiss Indoors Basel. Also, he has folded the towels for five-time major champion Martina Hingis from Switzerland.
“I was two years a ball boy. And even at the club level, at my local club too for Patty Schnyder and Hingis and so forth. I have been there,” said Federer.
Later, in 2001, the Swiss maestro had an opportunity to share the court with Hingis at Hopman Cup. They went on to claim the title, and post their win, Federer shared his experience of partnering Hingis. “Definitely helped me to become the player I am today,” he said.
Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Shares Throwback Met Gala Photo
Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, melted hearts with a recently shared throwback photo. The couple looked gorgeous in their formal outfits.
Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, are giving off couple goal vibes in a recently shared Instagram post.
On Tuesday, Alexis shared a throwback photo of him and his wife looking super gorgeous in their Met Gala outfits from last year. While Alex stunned in a simple black and white suit, Williams opted for a more dramatic look in a yellow dress with pink ruffles.
The adorable picture also featured a pink feathery background that complimented Serena’s beautiful dress.
While captioning the picture, Ohanian explained that he wished they could attend the annual Met Gala event, which was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He further wrote:
“Please support your local museums when we get back to normal 🖼 @metmuseum.”
Fans and loved ones of the couple quickly took to the comment section to express their love and well wishes for the duo. While one user commented: “Perfection,” another follower gushed; “Classic. #loveyourwife. Blessings to you both.”
Alexis, who shares two-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. with Williams, has been quarantining at home with his family. This is in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In a January interview with “The Guardian,” the “Reddit” co-founder expressed his concerns over the unavailability of paid paternity leave for men in the United States.
Although the 37-year-old was allowed to take time off work following the birth of his daughter in 2018, he understands that the choice is not available for every family. He said;
“I couldn’t imagine going through that as a husband and having to decide or even think for a second about choosing between your wife and your career.”
Alexis went on to reveal that becoming a father had helped him realize the true importance and practicality of paid paternity leave. This inspires him to advocate for a change continuously.
Ohanian currently works for “Initialized Capital,” which he also co-founded. As part of his contribution towards the campaign, Alexis’ company offers 16 weeks’ paid parental leave for employees.
He believed this would force other companies to include the benefit in their policy if they want to stay relevant in their industries.
On September 1, 2017, Alexis and Serena welcomed their first child together. Two months after, the couple tied the knot at a ceremony in New Orleans.
