Pregnant Serena Williams Pens Emotional Letter To Her Unborn Baby On Fiancee Alexis Ohanian’s Birthday

Serena Williams’ baby isn’t here yet, but the tennis pro is fully in mommy-mode. She shared a beach-side bump photo along with a message for her unborn child on Monday that will tug at your heartstrings.

While soaking up the sun with fiancé Alexis Ohanian, Williams expressed her excitement about becoming a mother and revealed the many things she’s learned thus far. The title-winning athlete said that in getting pregnant, she was able to uncover a strength she didn’t know she’d been harboring all along. Williams added that she was looking forward to meeting the little bundle of joy she and Ohanian had created and couldn’t wait to have him or her sitting in the player’s box at tennis matches.

The photo marks the first time Williams has showed off her baby bump since announcing her pregnancy on April 20. She broke the news on Snapchat, revealing that she’s 20 weeks along. Williams’ rep later released a statement to The New York Times confirming that she’d be sidelined for the remainder of the 2017 tennis season, but has every intention of returning in 2018.

Fans were shocked by the announcement, largely because of the timing. Williams was already apparently pregnant when she won the Australian Open, and Twitter and Instagram users were quick to turn that fact into a funny meme, praising her athleticism.

In addition to welcoming her first child this year, Williams and Ohanian are preparing for a wedding. The couple got engaged on December 29, 2016. They haven’t revealed a wedding date, but Williams occasionally shares updates, like this veil photo, on Instagram.