Serena Williams recently recollected the moment she found out she was pregnant with her first child during the 2017 Australian Open.
The tournament was a rollercoaster moment for the legendary American because she won the last of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles of her illustrious career.
But remarkably, it was also confirmed that she won the Melbourne Slam seven years ago while eight weeks pregnant, unbeknownst to Williams when she arrived in Australia from New Zealand at the start of the 2017 season.
The 42-year-old retired from professional tennis in the summer of 2022, playing one final US Open before bringing the curtain down in front of her home fans. She has previously teased the tennis community of a potential return, but it is unlikely to happen as she is focused on growing her businesses.
The former World No. 1 has also settled into her second career phase, balancing her life as a businesswoman with motherhood. Last year, she welcomed her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, together with her husband Alexis.
Williams was recently featured in her newest docuseries, In the Arena: Serena Williams. In one of the episodes, she divulged the surprising moment when she knew she was pregnant with her first child, Olympia.
The American explained how she initially took the pregnancy test as a joke and wanted to prove her friend Jessica wrong over her suspicions when she saw her physique change.
"I go to Melbourne after New Zealand and I was in the elevator with my friend Jessica, who was also there when I first met Alexis all those years ago. And she's like, 'Girl, your b**bs are big!' And I'm like, 'They're always big, Jess, leave me alone.' [She said] 'So you should take a pregnancy test.' And I'm just like, 'Please.' She's like, 'I'm going to get you one.' So it's all, you know, I was like, 'Sure, whatever. Why not?"
Serena shared a short video of the series on her Instagram account and recalled telling her husband of the joyful news after beating Belinda Bencic in her first round.
"I remember telling Alexis after one match that I know we’re having a girl because I don’t know any man that can handle this much pressure."
Williams was convinced nothing concrete would emerge from the test, as she stated in the video. Once she found out, the first person she remembers sharing the news with was her long-time agent Jill Smoller, who would sense right away.
"And at some point, she opens the door and sticks her head out and says, 'Jill, can you come in here? And I'm like, 'Oh God.' I walk in, she's in the bathroom and she looks at me and I look at her and I'm like, 'You're pregnant."
Serena had a complicated first pregnancy because of her history of blood clots, and she suffered from a pulmonary embolism when she gave birth. She has been very candid about this experience and stated that it almost cost her life.
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