Serena Williams has given birth to her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, announced her husband, Alexis Ohanian, on Tuesday, adding that both are “happy and healthy” following the challenging birth of the tennis star’s first child, which left her fighting for her life.
“I’m thrilled to announce our house is becoming a team with love: a new baby, a happy, healthy baby, and a happy, healthy mom,” posted her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with a radiant Williams holding their two daughters in her arms.
Addressing his 41-year-old wife, he told her that she had “given me the best 1-2 combo ever: you’re a real-life super hero, and I’m so damn proud of you and proud to call you my wife”.
In 2017, Williams, one of the greatest players in history, won the Australian Open — one of her many Grand Slam titles — while pregnant with the couple’s first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
However, months later, she nearly died after developing a blood clot in her lung following the emergency C-section birth of Olympia.
She spent six weeks bedridden after a pulmonary embolism, but fought to return to competition five months later in a Fed Cup doubles match alongside her sister Venus.
Williams retired from tennis last year after becoming a superstar over a generation. “I’m ready to be a mom and ready to explore a new version of myself,” she said after her last match last year.
