Serena Williams’ birthday tribute to her daughter will melt your heart
There’s no one—and we mean no one—stronger than Serena Williams. Her list of accomplishments is long and her trophy case is full. And yet, despite all of the accolades, Williams considers her greatest accomplishment one that has nothing to do with tennis. She’s most proud of the fact that she’s a mother.
Williams’ daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. turned two on Sunday, September 1st. The tennis star took to Instagram to celebrate the occasion with a sweet picture taken just moments after she was born. Williams’ short but sweet caption says it all: “The last 2 years have been my greatest accomplishment.” Aww.
Proud dad Alexis Ohanian Sr. also celebrated the occasion with an adorable pic of mom, dad, and baby’s hands all together. “How has it already been two years? Happy cake day @olympiaohanian,” he captioned the photo. “Thank you for being the greatest thing we’ve ever done. And thank you for teaching me that every parent in the US deserves those first months with their newborn. I’m a better business leader because of it.”
Ohanian ended the post with the hashtag “#PaidFamilyLeave” to reinforce the importance of both parents getting time off to spend with their new bundle of joy.
While Williams posted the tribute on Olympia’s day of birth, it’s important to note that they don’t actually celebrate birthdays.
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays,” Williams said during a press conference in August 2018, People reports. “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we don’t do that.”
Williams is currently competing in the US Open and will play in the quarter-final tomorrow, September 3rd. During a recent interview with Forbes, she opened up about how difficult it is to be away from her daughter when she’s on the court.
"You know, it's hard. Sometimes my heart literally aches when I'm not around her. But, you know, it's good for me, I guess, to keep working and just to all moms out there that it's not easy. It's really kind of painful sometimes. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do."
We’re touched by Williams and Ohanian’s tributes to their daughter and look forward to many more cake days to come.