All About Serena Williams' Husband and Their Relationship Together

Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, met the tennis star under unexpected circumstances back in 2015 at a hotel in Rome. Williams was preparing for the Italian Open, while Ohanian was in town for a tech conference.

Their relationship developed quickly, and Ohanian, who had no prior connection to tennis, began supporting Williams both on and off the court. The couple spent some time together in Paris, where they explored the city and deepened their bond. Over the next year, they made their relationship public, with Williams sharing a playful Instagram post that featured Ohanian in a group photo (she even calls him a nerd in her caption!).

Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time and one of the most influential women in history. According to her bio on the Olympics website, she has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. She turned professional in 1995 and dominated women's tennis for more than two decades, with her powerful style of play and relentless drive setting her apart from her peers. But what about Ohanian? If you're interested in learning more about who Serena Williams' husband is, keep reading for details on what we know about his career and the couple's love story.

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• Serena Williams is married to Alexis Ohanian. They have been together since 2015.
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian met in Rome, Italy.
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian got married on November 16, 2017, in New Orleans.
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian share two children together: Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. and Adira River Ohanian.

In this article:

• Who is Serena Wiliams' Husband, Alexis Ohanian?
• How Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian Met
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Relationship Timeline
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Engagement
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Wedding
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Children

Who is Serena Wiliams' Husband, Alexis Ohanian?

Alexis Ohanian is a successful tech entrepreneur best known for co-founding Reddit in 2005, which grew into one of the largest online communities in the world. He played a major role in developing the platform, which was eventually sold to Condé Nast in 2006. Ohanian stayed involved with Reddit, returning to the company in 2014 as executive chairman before stepping down in 2020 to focus on other ventures.

Beyond Reddit, Ohanian is a passionate advocate for internet freedom, co-founding the travel website Hipmunk and investing in various start-ups through his venture capital firm, Initialized Capital. He's also recognized for his devotion to his family, often publicly supporting his wife's career and accomplishments.

How Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian Met

Williams and Ohanian's meeting was rather serendipitous, winding up at the same hotel in Rome in May 2015. Williams was there in preparation for the Italian Open, while Ohanian was visiting for a tech conference.

According to a feature from Vanity Fair, they were seated near each other at breakfast, and their conversation started when Williams jokingly suggested Ohanian move his seat due to a pretend rat sighting nearby. What started as a playful interaction turned into an unexpected connection, leading Williams to invite him to the French Open later that month.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Relationship Timeline

May 2015: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have their first date

Williams and Ohanian's first official date was in Paris in May 2015, shortly after they met in Rome. Williams had invited Ohanian to watch her play at the French Open after their initial encounter, and to her surprise, he accepted the invitation and flew out to Paris for the weekend.

September 2015: Alexis Ohanian cheers Serena Williams on at the US Open

On September 4, Ohanian posted a photo while in the stands at the US Open. He captioned the snap, "Come at the queen, you best not miss. #USOpen," which, it seems, was about his future wife.

December 2016: Alexis Ohanian proposes in Rome

Ohanian's proposal was an ultra-sweet, romantic gesture that beautifully tied back to the beginning of their love story. The proposal took place in December 2016 at the Cavalieri Hotel in Rome, the very spot (and very table!) where they had first met a year earlier.

September 2017: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have their first child

On September 1, 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. A couple of weeks later, Williams posted a close-up of her and her baby girl on Instagram.

November 2017: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian get married

Just two months after the birth of Olympia, the couple got married on November 16, 2017, in a lavish Beauty and the Beast-themed ceremony at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. The star-studded event included guests like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and more.

August 2023: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have their second child

On August 15, 2023, Williams and Ohanian welcomed their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian. They announced the birth with a social media post that included a sweet photo of the family together, with their eldest daughter by her mother's side.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Engagement

On December 29, 2016, Ohanian proposed to Williams in a romantic gesture that brought their love story full circle. He took her back to the exact hotel in Rome where they first met. "Alexis flew me out to Rome, back to the exact table where we'd met. We were both really nervous but also excited to take this huge step. It was such a beautiful moment," Williams told Vogue. Williams broke the news of their engagement on Reddit, sharing a poem: "I came home. A little late. Someone had a bag packed for me. And a carriage waited. Destination: Rome."

"To escort me to my very own 'charming.' Back to where our stars first collided," she continued. "And now it was full circle. At the same table we first met by chance. But by choice. Down on knee. He said 4 words. And I said yes."

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Wedding

Williams and Ohanian's wedding was a spectacular event held on November 16, 2017 at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. They chose the date to honor Ohanian's late mother, who had passed away nine years prior. "It is her birthday, and we wanted her to be represented at the wedding," Williams told Vogue.

According to the same Vogue interview, the ceremony was star-studded, with a guest list that included Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Anna Wintour and more. The theme of the wedding was Beauty and the Beast, and guests were encouraged to dress accordingly for the lavish, French-ball-inspired celebration​.

Williams walked down the aisle in a breathtaking custom Alexander McQueen gown, designed by Sarah Burton, the same designer behind Kate Middleton's wedding dress. For her wedding reception dress, she wore two different Versace gowns—one beaded and another feathered. The celebration didn't stop with the reception; there was a chic after-party that featured an all-white carousel the guests could party on as it spun. What a scene that must have been!

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Children

Williams and Ohanian share two children. Their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., was born on September 1, 2017. Williams had a highly complicated and life-threatening birth experience when delivering Olympia. After undergoing an emergency C-section, she developed a pulmonary embolism, a condition in which blood clots block arteries in the lungs​. She opened up about her experience in a story with CNN, where she highlighted the importance of healthcare access and better maternal care, especially for women of color, who are statistically more likely to experience complications during childbirth​. On August 15, 2023, they welcomed their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian. Fortunately, her second childbirth was far less complicated.