I think that's a good decision. She's already made a name in sports, she deserves to be on leave and prepare for her little one's arrival. Congratulations to her! I bet she's overjoyed with this wonderful blessing she received! I hope I can say the same for us soon. We're trying to get pregnant also and we're waiting for a positive result on my free conceiveeasy pt. I'm hoping with fingers crossed! lol
1
Both the Williams sister have been an inspiration for the world and American tennis in particular , true success story .
I wish for Serena and her husband a long and happy family life!
I wish for Serena and her husband a long and happy family life!
And people really care about this, why? This is really newsworthy?
1
Margaret Court is delighted.
Too bad for her that her record straddles the open and amateur eras and included so many practically uncontested Australian opens.
Have we learned nothing over the past few years about how to properly acknowledge the triumphs of female athletes, particularly when it comes to Serena Williams? For goodness sake, an entire ad campaign this year centered around critiquing the media for obsessively making a distinction between "athlete" and "female athlete". Yet here is another article by an elite publication (and one of my favorites) that opens with a statement vastly understating the accomplishments of Serena by referring to her as not only the best women's tennis player, but also the best of this era. How many times do we have to keep playing this game? Serena Williams is one of the best athletes of all time. Disappointed in this article.
12
"More major titles will have to wait, if they happen at all."
Seriously, "if they happen at all? In the same paragraph where she says she'll definitely be back to play in 2018?
This author needs to get with the program. Serena Williams will play, and win titles, whenever she's good and ready.
Seriously, "if they happen at all? In the same paragraph where she says she'll definitely be back to play in 2018?
This author needs to get with the program. Serena Williams will play, and win titles, whenever she's good and ready.
9
Congrats to the happy couple, soon to be a threesome.
4
Congratulations Serena Williams! Now you are in for another great challenge.
3
I hope everyone realizes that with this child's genetic propensity for competitiveness, strategy, athletic ability, toughness, entrepreneurial spirit, and general badassery, s/he will become our overlord by 2045. Teach your children how to curtsey now.
19
Good for you Serena! You have my admiration and respect as an outstanding athlete and a fine woman. Many blessings to you on your pregnancy and whether you decide to return or not, you have left an indelible mark in the game of tennis.
9
Wouldn't it be nice if all of the comments simply said best wishes or the like? So many mean people with nothing better to do than try to tear down a fantastic athlete in the absolute prime of her life!
Congratulations to Serena and Alexis!
Congratulations to Serena and Alexis!
11
Remember the good old days, when people got married BEFORE they had children? She's a great athlete, but not a very good role model.
4
It is mainly the other women tennis players that are happy Serena Williams is possibly pregnant. It would be nice if she were younger but at the age of 35 it could mean that she is forced to retire and this would leave Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list of grand-slam winners (24) in women's tennis. Margaret Court doesn't deserve to be recognized as the greatest female tennis player of all time but a Williams retirement would make that more likely for the forseeable future. Give me men's tennis. Men don't have to worry about that sort of thing and they play better tennis than women anyway.
5
Men play better tennis? Why don't you ask Bobbie Riggs about that . . .
3
No Charles Samuel Dworak, Margaret Court is not the leader of women's grand slam tournaments. A good number of the tournaments she played in were not Grand Slams but amateur events where some of the big name players did not make the long trip down under. Tournament wins yes, Grand Slams - no (not taking anything away from Court) but Serena stands alone...
2
Wow, really?
1
Serena Williams in one of a handful of legendary athletes considered to be amongst the best ever; Serena is on par with Michael Jordan, hands down. Case closed.
31
Fret not thyself.
Serena Williams has overcome a lot of hardships
and will no doubt instill in her child greater truths.
I don't doubt that she will be a good mother, Thank you.
Serena Williams has overcome a lot of hardships
and will no doubt instill in her child greater truths.
I don't doubt that she will be a good mother, Thank you.
5
Hopefully she will teach her child not to threaten and abuse people when things aren't going her way.
9
The same way I hope she'll teach that child that one mistake doesn't define you, but it will define your haters, so ignore those who can't move on. Lessons for a lifetime, don't you think?
15
Don' worry yourself.
Serena, I am hopeful, will pass on to her child, her courage, her strength , her belief in herself especially in the face of abuse.
Serena will be a good mother.
Serena, I am hopeful, will pass on to her child, her courage, her strength , her belief in herself especially in the face of abuse.
Serena will be a good mother.
4
Serena and Venus are examples of how to in America. The way Venus has handled seeing her own incredible successes eclipsed by her younger sis is perfect. Serena is an athlete beyond compare but a good person too. What impresses me the most about both of them is they have created their own path in a gracious and endearing manner while succeeding in every way possible.
26
Congratulations to Serena. Not sure why it is such a revelation that she may have been pregnant while playing in Australia. Pregnant women can do amazing things while pregnant. With good health & care >> Yes, play tennis and other sports too.
20
Runner seem to get some sort of a rejuvenation from pregnancy. Wonder if it works for tennis players, too?
1
What a dazzler she and her sister both are, best wishes!
21
I've often wondered what you do after you've been to the mountain top and have applauded Serena (although Venus is my favorite) for her drive to keep winning and being number 1 for so long. It is a testament to her drive that as others have acquired the title they either have not held it long or noticeably struggled to do so. With all that said, I now applaud her second act and wish her and her fiance all the happiness in the world.
14
On the courts she is the best. Off the courts I'm not interested.
3
"When or even if she will return to the court remains a question mark..." Didn't she clearly say she is going to return to the court? Why make it so ambiguous that she will do so? That kind of discounts/doubts her own words and suggests that pregnancy and motherhood will somehow not allow the greatest tennis player in the world to continue playing.
23
THANK YOU. While I applaud her titles and congratulate her on her pregnancy, this article is complete garbage. It's insulting to women, regardless of whether or not they are famous athletes.
9
Right there with you. Like having a baby suddenly makes you disabled.
And it has never been asked of any man, EVER, if they would return to what they were doing before there was a baby in the picture.
And it has never been asked of any man, EVER, if they would return to what they were doing before there was a baby in the picture.
2
Congratulations Serena, the Lord will be with you on this type of championship too. You're always a winner. God bless you.
5
Congratulations, Serena Williams! What a Mom you're going to be. Can't wait to see you win your first match, post birth of your first child, with YOUR Mom sitting in the stands holding her new grandchild.
You've got the power, now you go, 'girl!'
En marche!
You've got the power, now you go, 'girl!'
En marche!
13
"unexpectedly announced her engagement in December" - like around the time the pregnancy test said "oops"? Let's wait & see if this celebrity actually ends up married. They've had 20 wks to plan & have the wedding . . . . . . . .
1
Actually the pregnancy test said "Yay, prayer's answered." I don't know that of course but it's certainly as plausible as your "theory". BTW they have been a couple for a long time and he is obviously deeply in love with her. Pregnancy is not the best time to plan or have a wedding as you don't always know how you will be feeling and you want to enjoy yourself. Also, she has major health issues and maybe doesn't need the extra stress at this time. Lots of ways to imagine things we know nothing about, right?
Cluck cluck. Tisk tisk.
Cluck cluck. Tisk tisk.
10
Congratulations and many blessings, to you, Ms. Williams!
7
The "best women's tennis p[layer of this era"? Please. Try G.O.A.T.
15
"It is unclear whether Serena Williams knew she was pregnant during that tournament."
Serena has to be so in tune with her body to compete at the level she does - she knew. Give her some credit.
Serena has to be so in tune with her body to compete at the level she does - she knew. Give her some credit.
12
I heard this yesterday on the Tennis Channel. They said they had a special announcement to make and I thought "she's pregnant." Good for Serena and her fiance!! Congrats!!
5
"More major titles will have to wait, if they happen at all." Shame on you NYT. The first part of that statement is a fact, the second is ridiculous, outdated, sexist speculation.
18
I don't understand how you could limit her to bring the best "women's" player of "this era". She is without a doubt the greatest of all time. She has blown every record out of the water in multiple ways. Who else in sports can match Serena's stellar record? You realize of course Margaret Court was only playing her countryman and not the whole world for many of her titles. Athletes before "this" era were not playing the Eastern bloc players en masse who used to have to chose to defect and leave everything to play on tour like Martina Navratilova. Neither Federer's nor Tiger Woods nor any other athlete's records cannot stack against Serena's. So this downplaying of her accomplishments in this article, by the advertisers and by a large swath of society smacks of prejudice. It is totally unwarranted. How many ways does she have to prove that she is the greatest of all time? Congratulations Serena. Enjoy your family and thanks for 2 decades of nonstop thrills and brilliance. We love you! And you are GOAT!
33
Hey Katisha,
I agree with a lot of what you say. But, unless you had seen either Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus play in their primes, you don't know what you're talking about. In tennis, you play against one other person at a time. But, in golf, except for match play, you play against a large field every time. Serena is GOAT, no doubt, but a buddy and I watched TW play in about 1997 in person for about 16 holes. Standing behind a tee, and watching him hit his 2-iron, we were staggered! We thought a cannon was going off. So, unless you are both an avid tennis player and golfer, on this matter, as I said, you don't know what you're talking about. Nevertheless, Serena is GOAT in women's tennis.
I agree with a lot of what you say. But, unless you had seen either Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus play in their primes, you don't know what you're talking about. In tennis, you play against one other person at a time. But, in golf, except for match play, you play against a large field every time. Serena is GOAT, no doubt, but a buddy and I watched TW play in about 1997 in person for about 16 holes. Standing behind a tee, and watching him hit his 2-iron, we were staggered! We thought a cannon was going off. So, unless you are both an avid tennis player and golfer, on this matter, as I said, you don't know what you're talking about. Nevertheless, Serena is GOAT in women's tennis.
Serena is the greatest living athlete. Period. Her stats back that claim up. Did Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus hold off ALL of their competitors for over 12 years straight like Serena has done? Maria Sharapova has not beaten Serena in 12 years and for a good portion of that time they were ranked number 1 and 2, respectively. Serena has won 23 Grand Slams while losing only 5 that she's entered. Her stats beat everyone.
15
I'll miss her tennis, her beautiful strokes, but not her look, her fake nice persona and her unsporting ways. The bad news is that horrible screamers Sharapova and Azarenka are coming back. I much prefer the Williams sisters.
4
So you don't really watch tennis then? Serena ALWAYS applauds a great shot from her competitor and she ALWAYS is gracious at the net afterwards, putting her hand on her (much younger) competitor's shoulder or back and saying something kind to them. You must be thinking of Sharapova.
15
I have been a huge Serena fan for ages. And her recent triumphs, and indeed games of joy, are so inspiring. This is such happy news, I hope all goes well!
If you end up not playing majors again Serena, I have a feeling that you could well become an excellent commentator. You will speak truth to power-hitters!
If you end up not playing majors again Serena, I have a feeling that you could well become an excellent commentator. You will speak truth to power-hitters!
8
If Serena plays Wimbledon this year she will probably still win. What a champ!
6
Winning a Slam - tough. Winning a Slam without dropping a set - tougher. Winning a Slam without dropping a set when you are over thirty - even tougher. Winning Slam without dropping a set, over thirty and pregnant - Serena! Great good news for the greatest tennis player ever, and perhaps the greatest woman athlete of all time (I say perhaps because I dont know enough about other women athletes, but its hard to imagine!) Go, Serena, we love you
22
Ahhh shucks, in a highly unusual event such as this (mainly, me giving a compliment), I will say congratulations!
5
Congratulations Serena and Alexis!
6
Always happy to hear that someone who has had an amazing career can have a family life, too.
7
Congratulations, Serena. What a pioneering idea for a woman...many of the other commenters here seem to find it all singular! The pregnancy news warms my heart, because now I won't have to root for your many inept opponents. Cheers and may you have twins just like that other tennis player!
2
Isn't she just the best? Wait, her sister too. Best wishes. I've been a fan since forever.
7
Yay, Serena!
6
While she is great, nary a word of her mate who definitely had a part in all of this.
He founded Reddit? It's in there.
Azarenka is crazy to return to play in July. There are all sorts of physiological changes that she is adjusting to as a result of childbirth and pregnancy. She is at high risk of injury if she returns and also I doubt that her iron levels are the best and this will factor into poor performance. My advice to her wait at least 18 months cf Kim Clijsters. What is the hurry a successful injury free return to play is the goal. Madness to return in July but what does a sports savvy MD like me know! Oh dear me!
The other players now have confirmation for what they were thinking: there really were two people on the other side of the net returning those balls they hit at Serena.
16
This story reminds me of the good old days when America was great, there was no crime, getting pregnant before marriage made you an outcast, and black men and women weren't allowed to compete at top levels. Aren't we glad some people want to take us back?
34
"... getting pregnant before marriage made you an outcast..."
And women in this position were referred to as being "in trouble". Nowadays, the only time Serena will be in trouble is if she insults a linesman about a foot fault. again.
And women in this position were referred to as being "in trouble". Nowadays, the only time Serena will be in trouble is if she insults a linesman about a foot fault. again.
2
Ditto, everybody! She is the greatest and she will probably be as amazing a Mom as she is an athlete and inspiration! XXX
38
It never stops seeming miraculous, does it? That a person can grow a new person inside their torso.
36
Please let me fix part of your article: remove the phrase, "one of " from the following statement and it will be accurate.
"Williams is one of the greatest American athletes active today, and is the highest-paid female athlete in the world. "
"Williams is one of the greatest American athletes active today, and is the highest-paid female athlete in the world. "
64
Serena is the greatest athlete not just one of the greatest athletes.
9
She is the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5
Best wishes to a great woman!
38
Congratulations Serena.
30
Mazeltov!!
33
Power of the SHE.
Way to go, Serena!
Way to go, Serena!
27
I think it's important to follow the (Dave) Barry Rule in these matters: unless you see a baby emerging from a woman at that very instant, 'tis best to avoid any implication that she might even/especially 'appear to be' pregnant.
12
Congrats to Selena and Fiance! Selena is in the top 20 of all time best American Athletes in addition to being a role model/leader in and outside the world of tennis. The fact that she won the Open while pregnant just demonstrates how well us women mulitask and get things done!
33
Being pregnant while playing tennis isn't multitasking.
17
Give it a try and tell us how it works for you. The first part of pregnancy is fun but exhausting.
3
let's see you try it.
2
Sad that it might mean retirement...but lucky baby. Congratulations Serena.
32
Congrats to the best ever tennis player in WTA history, and her fiancée Alexis.
Wishing Serena/Alexis a healthy and happy pregnancy. I've SO many happy memories as a fan over these 22 years just thinking back to the time I first saw Serena as a teen ager winning her first WTA title, and seeing her now becoming a Mom. Time sure does fly. It's been a blast!
Again, congrats to Serena & Alexis and their families for the joyous news.
Wishing Serena/Alexis a healthy and happy pregnancy. I've SO many happy memories as a fan over these 22 years just thinking back to the time I first saw Serena as a teen ager winning her first WTA title, and seeing her now becoming a Mom. Time sure does fly. It's been a blast!
Again, congrats to Serena & Alexis and their families for the joyous news.
3
why? Kim Clisters came back.
She was pretty clear that it doesn't.
It was hard enough to keep my head out of the toilet in my first trimester. Serena won a grueling, two-week Grand Slam tennis tournament during hers. You go girl!
178
Congratulations to Serena Williams! You are an inspiration.
61
Does that means she gets the Mixed Doubles or Women's Doubles crown?
40
"There is a time for everything and every activity under Heaven... a time to be born..."
I love good news!
I love good news!
35
You're one of the greatest!! Congrats! You'll be a wonderful mom and role model.
43
"Williams is one of the greatest American athletes active today" -- why 'active today'? Chris Evert, who ought to know, said Serena is "probably the greatest tennis player of all time."
(http://www.excellesports.com/news/chris-evert-serena-williams-greatest-p...
Serena Williams is one of the greatest American athletes of all time -- one of the greatest from *any* country. It takes longer to say - but she's earned it. And her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian, is a gem of a man. Both have overcome adversity. May their family life together bring them great happiness.
(http://www.excellesports.com/news/chris-evert-serena-williams-greatest-p...
Serena Williams is one of the greatest American athletes of all time -- one of the greatest from *any* country. It takes longer to say - but she's earned it. And her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian, is a gem of a man. Both have overcome adversity. May their family life together bring them great happiness.
141
Congratulations! We are proud of you. Good luck with the baby!
47
Congrats Serena!
40
Serena Williams is the greatest living tennis player and one of the greatest athletes in the world.
Apparently there's nothing she can't do.
Congratulations to a great champion.
Looking good, Ms. Williams.
162
Two words: Roger Federer.
8
23 Slams
1
How many matches has Roger played and won while pregnant?
85
A true champion and an American icon. Cheers and good luck for the next chapter of her life.
74
Federer greatest of all time? Hard argument to make, especially as he's never done this!
104
Excellent observation!
11
Agreed and he also has a losing record against his closest rival Nadal.
1
Congrats! Doing anything in the first trimester is hard -- what a champ!
83
Good for her. A really interesting person who will probably be a great mom.
55