Inside Serena Williams Love All Story With Alexis Ohanian

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It’s no surprise that Alexis Ohanian simply aced his first date with tennis legend Serena Williams. 

During the first part of their 2015 meeting, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian faced a rapid-fire series of personal questions from Serena Williams, her assistant, and agent Jill Smoller. As Ohanian recalled in Williams’ 2024 ESPN+ documentary, In The Arena, it felt like a two-hour interrogation, covering everything from his marital status to whether he had children. No topic was considered too personal.

Then he swooped in with a tidbit that truly saved the day. 

“He started talking about Iron Man and Marvel,” Williams detailed. “That’s the way to my heart.” 

It’s just one of many trick plays the tech entrepreneur has employed in their decade together. 

He once had billboards put up in Palm Springs to welcome his wife back to competing after a difficult maternity leave in 2018. He also famously surprised her with a trip to Venice just because she’d said she was craving pasta.

He also famously stirred up controversy at the 2019 U.S. Open by seemingly mocking Maria Sharapova, his wife’s opponent. He revealed a t-shirt referencing Sharapova’s past doping suspension only after it was clear Serena Williams had easily won her match.

Find a partner who will fiercely defend you and isn’t afraid to confront online negativity. For example, the conversation around her dance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance wasn’t just about her relationship with Drake, despite what Stephen A. Smith might say – it meant much more than that.

Ohanian is married to Alexis Williams, and they wed in New Orleans on November 16, 2017.

Okay, seriously, has anyone not heard that my absolute idol, a UVA grad, has spent the last eight years making sure everyone knows he’s the greatest tennis player EVER? And not just that, but he’s also the GMOAT – the Greatest Momma of All Time – to his adorable daughters! Little Alexis Olympia Ohanian, who is basically a future tennis superstar (did you SEE her at the 2024 ESPYs?!), and his sweet little Adira River Ohanian. Honestly, they’re all just perfect!

Although she’s won a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Alexis Ohanian said he approached their relationship with a secret to success, learned from watching his parents’ strong partnership.

The wealthy entrepreneur’s success wasn’t about lavish vacations or grand gestures. It came down to much simpler things.

In a 2019 Valentine’s Day essay for Glamour, he emphasized the importance of simply being present and supportive, stating, “You have to show up. You have to be supportive. These are the things that matter.”

Growing up, he’d seen his parents fall quickly in love during a two-week trip to Ireland and build a deeply committed partnership. Because of that, he felt prepared when he met Williams at a hotel in Rome.

Though it may have helped if he’d seen even one moment of tennis in his lifetime.

Okay, so Serena was in Rome for the Italian Open, obviously, and I’ve pieced together EVERYTHING about how they met! Alexis was supposed to be at some media conference, but get this – the night before, he was out with Kristen Wiig! Can you believe it? He was a little…off, let’s say, when he spotted Serena, her agent, and a friend. He actually tried to grab the table next to them – the one they were saving for the rest of her team! It’s just…amazing how close he was to missing his chance! I’ve read every article, watched every interview… it’s destiny, I tell you!

Williams and her colleagues were frustrated, but Ohanian didn’t notice, as he had put on his headphones and was preparing to focus on his work.

As Williams remembered in a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair, a large man unexpectedly sat down at the table beside hers, which surprised her given the other available seating. Her business partner attempted to subtly get him to move by pretending there was a rat, but Williams decided to be direct.

We were trying to convince him to leave, but he wouldn’t budge. He kept looking at us and asking if there was actually a rat. So, I changed my approach and told him we needed the table he was sitting at.

Reader, a meet-cute this was not.  

Something about Ohanian’s personality charmed Williams, maybe because he casually mentioned growing up seeing rats in his Brooklyn neighborhood. She invited him to join her group, and that’s when he realized she was actually the Serena Williams – the famous tennis star.

He confessed to Vanity Fair that he’d never actually watched a tennis match, either on TV or in person. He even admitted that he’d tune out ESPN just from hearing tennis scores – he simply didn’t care for the sport.

It was alright, because when Ohanian mentioned he was at the tech conference to give a speech – he was popular due to creating Reddit – Williams said she knew the website well, claiming she’d even looked at it that morning.

Even though it didn’t look like Williams was looking for romance, someone from her team invited Ohanian to come see her play tennis.

I was so thrilled when she won, but I could tell she wasn’t completely satisfied with her performance. It was amazing to see how much she strives for perfection! As she got ready for the French Open, she had this idea – she wanted a ‘do-over,’ and she asked Alexis Ohanian to come along with her, like she needed his support to try again.

He told Vanity Fair that even if Serena Williams cancelled on him, he was still looking forward to a fantastic trip to Paris. He planned to tell his childhood friends, ‘I went to Paris for the weekend. Serena was supposed to meet up with me, but it didn’t work out, and I ended up having a great time with other friends there.’

And she didn’t reject him. Their first date after the match lasted six hours, filled with strolling through Paris, buying sweets at La Ménagerie in the Jardin des Plantes, and seeing iconic landmarks. It was a remarkably relaxed and unhurried date.

It might seem unusual to connect a top athlete with a tech leader, but Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have a surprisingly effective partnership. Williams’ energetic personality balances out Ohanian’s more grounded and calm demeanor.

As someone who observes successful partnerships, I’ve noticed a really smart dynamic with Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. They both are incredibly dedicated to their careers, but they’ve also made a point of genuinely learning about each other’s worlds. It’s wonderful to see! Now, Serena’s lending her expertise as a board member at SurveyMonkey, and Alexis has become a total tennis enthusiast – he’s seriously the biggest fan! It shows a real commitment to supporting each other’s passions, and that’s a key ingredient for any thriving relationship, in my experience.

Williams described him as very intelligent, but humble – someone who’s genuinely interested in learning. She told Vogue in 2017 that her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness is important to her, though she admits she hasn’t fully dedicated herself to practicing it yet. While her partner, Alexis, didn’t have a religious upbringing, he’s open-minded and supportive, and often takes the initiative when it comes to her spiritual needs, prioritizing them above his own.

He showed how much he cared when he proposed in Rome in December 2016 – at the very place they’d first met, even with a playful plastic rat on the table! But he really went above and beyond when their daughter, Olympia, was born the following September.

Becoming a father to Olympia completely changed how I thought about supporting my wife. Being there for her and adapting to our new life together felt even more important, especially considering the difficult birth and recovery she experienced.

Serena Williams seemed incredibly strong, even winning the Australian Open shortly after finding out she was pregnant. However, her childbirth experience was frightening. She developed several blood clots, one of which traveled to her lung, causing a life-threatening condition called a pulmonary embolism.

Steve Ohanian fully embraced his 16 weeks of parental leave and enthusiastically shared its advantages with others. After leaving the Reddit board, he publicly encouraged them to appoint a Black candidate to his former position. He then co-founded Initialized Capital, a venture firm in San Francisco, and played a key role in bringing a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles.

In 2020, he launched a new venture capital firm called Seven Seven Six, all while raising his daughter and now caring for her younger sister.

Even after Serena Williams said she was retiring from tennis, he realized his career offered more flexibility.

According to research, men generally support their wives’ success, but only as long as it doesn’t overshadow their own careers. In fact, half of men believe their job should be prioritized over their wife’s, a sentiment he observed through online comments and social media posts.

Ohanian’s confidence stems from successfully balancing his work, raising his daughters, and supporting his incredibly gifted wife from the sidelines.

He explained to Glamour that he always tries to be a supportive partner, focusing on helping Serena achieve her goals. He said their conversations about her career usually start with him asking what she wants to achieve, both in tennis and in life. He prioritizes understanding her aspirations and supporting her journey to get there.

He’s willing to relocate – perhaps to Melbourne, Paris, or London – to support his wife and daughters. His daughters often join him at work, and his colleagues are accustomed to seeing his daughter Olympia appear on video calls.

They just shouldn’t expect him to pick up a call on Sunday.

He keeps those days free for spending time with his family, and for making his dad’s special pancakes – with a few tweaks to make them safe for his wheat allergy and to include raspberries, which his daughter loves.

Oh my gosh, he described his perfect day and I’m living for it! Apparently, when they’re at home, it’s all about disconnecting – no phones, can you believe it?! Just real, quality time together. He said they’ll just lounge around, play silly games like hide-and-seek, or even go for a swim! He said those simple family moments mean more to them than anything – forget fancy vacations or huge public displays, it’s all about that. It’s so sweet and genuine, I’m obsessed!

Though those highlights are pretty sweet as well. See how the pair continue to ace married life. 

In November 2024, while celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary, Serena expressed gratitude to her husband for consistently making life joyful, even turning ordinary days—like a typical November day—into something fun and memorable with surprises like a costume party.

The couple showed they’re just as happy with a quiet night in as they are with their luxurious vacations, sharing a charming snapshot from a September 2024 outing.

Serena and Alexis welcomed their second baby girl, Adira, in August 2023. 

In September 2022, Serena Williams shared a heartwarming photo on Instagram of her family enjoying a day at a farm, hinting at the arrival of another child soon after.

In July 2018, a tennis star had a craving for Italian food, so her husband surprised her with a trip to Venice, Italy – now that’s a romantic gesture!

The adorable couple enjoyed a day out with their little one in summer 2018. 

In May 2018, Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams returned to the Paris zoo where they first met, this time bringing their eight-month-old daughter, Olympia.

The glamorous couple attended the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in England in May 2018.

Although they were in England to celebrate the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their stunning outfits made it seem like they were the ones getting married!

Every year, this couple celebrates a special day just for themselves called Selexis Day. In April 2018, Williams shared details about their tradition, explaining that it was her turn to plan the celebration. She organized a scavenger hunt for her husband, which led him to a venue filled with his childhood friends, a live band, and karaoke. As a sweet touch, they even recreated and shared their wedding cake – something they hadn’t gotten to do at their original wedding. Sounds like a lot of fun!

I was so thrilled to see Serena and Alexis Ohanian at the premiere of her HBO documentary, Being Serena, back in April 2018. They absolutely radiated happiness and were definitely the stars of the night! It was a beautiful event and they truly stole the show.

Beyond supporting his wife at her tennis matches, Ohanian enjoys attending many other sporting events with Williams. They’re both big fans of Team USA, which makes their relationship even more endearing.

When Venus Williams isn’t on the tennis court, she enjoys challenging Spartan races with her husband and loved ones.

These two definitely clean up well and are always up for a fundraising gala.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian got married in New Orleans in November 2017, and it was a truly beautiful event. They seemed incredibly happy all night, and everyone is still talking about Serena’s stunning wedding dress!

In May 2017, the couple traveled to France, where they deepened their relationship while enjoying the beautiful sunsets.

Serena Williams made a stunning appearance at the 2017 Met Gala, publicly revealing she was pregnant for the first time with her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian, by her side.

Get yourself a man who will carry you for no reason on a beach!

Back in February 2017, the Reddit co-founder shared this adorable photo with a sweet message for his “Woman Crush Wednesday,” and people still love seeing them together!

Okay, so I’ve seen a lot of couples’ styles over the years, and this one is adorable! Apparently, when they first started dating, they went to a party dressed as matching bears – seriously! It was such a playful and sweet way to show they were a couple, and honestly? It was absolutely *bearilliant. A little cheesy, maybe, but totally charming!

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2025-11-16 16:18