Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., you have one seriously badass mom. Serena Williams is officially scheduled to make her return to competitive tennis very soon with her sister, Venus Williams, in the Fed Cup. That’s the powerhouse Williams sisters competing for the U.S. against the Netherlands on Feb. 10 and 11 as reported by ESPN.
More: Serena Williams’s Daughter Makes Her Vogue Debut
Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian Sr. welcomed baby girl Alexis Olympia in September 2017 — and if you’ve been wondering what Serena’s been up to, you just have to take a look at her Instagram (or baby Alexis’ Instagram) to see that this is a very happy time for the tennis icon.
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Williams sat out most of the 2017 season except for an exhibition match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in December. She lost to Jelena Ostapenko, who got no real bragging rights for that win considering Alexis had barely exited Williams’ womb at that point. (Sorry, Jelena.)
After that loss, Williams bowed out of the Australian Open, saying on Snapchat, “After performing in my first match after giving birth I realized that although I am super close I’m not where I personally want to be. My coach and team always said ‘Only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way.’ With that being said I am disappointed to say I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.”
More: Serena Williams’ Daughter Is Teething — & the Whole Fam Is Miserable
But Williams told Vogue that she is determined to claim 25 Grand Slam victories (yep, you read that right) to set a new record. And she credits her daughter for mellowing her out and potentially keeping her in a winning frame of mind. “When I’m too anxious I lose matches, and I feel like a lot of that anxiety disappeared when Olympia was born,” she said. “Knowing I’ve got this beautiful baby to go home to makes me feel like I don’t have to play another match. I don’t need the money or the titles or the prestige. I want them, but I don’t need them. That’s a different feeling for me.”
Considering Williams underwent an emergency C-section followed by additional surgery to remove a hematoma in her abdomen, which left her bedridden for six weeks, we think Williams’ plan to tear up the court — and rumble with history in 2018 just months after her body’s been through so much — are proof she is redefining the word “fierce.” And we’re #TeamSerena all the way.
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