Serena Williams says motherhood has made her more aware of how easily parenting dynamics can shift between siblings, admitting she sometimes catches herself being gentler with her youngest daughter than her eldest.
The tennis legend opened up about raising daughters Adira, 2, and Olympia, 8, whom she shares with her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, during a January 28 appearance on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.
While discussing their different personalities, Williams acknowledged that her own experience as the youngest child plays a role in how she responds to them.
“The older one is so sweet, Olympia is so sweet,” Williams said when asked about her daughters. After co-host Sheinelle Jones asked whether Olympia is a good big sister, Williams replied, “She’s the best big sister! And then the little one, Adira, she’s feisty, but she’s nice.”
Williams went on to explain that she sometimes finds herself instinctively stepping in on behalf of her youngest. “I mean, I’m obsessed. I’m the youngest, so I always have to make sure that I’m not being, you know, not necessarily favorites, but being too nice. ‘Let her have it! Let her do it!’ Because Olympia will be like, ‘No!’ And I’m like, ‘No, let her do it!’”
Jenna Bush Hager noted that Williams seemed especially aware of the dynamic in real time, prompting the tennis star to agree. “Yes! I feel like I’ve gotta shake out of that, which is just a whole new ballgame,” she said.
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Williams’s remarks underscored the delicate challenge of balancing fairness and empathy while raising children at different developmental stages, a reality she spoke about candidly, while emphasizing the importance of being mindful about treating both daughters with equal care.
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Outside of her television appearance, Williams has continued to offer glimpses into her family life since stepping away from professional tennis in September 2022. In early January, she shared Instagram photos of her family attending her sister Venus Williams’ wedding.
The images showed Williams and Ohanian smiling alongside Olympia and Adira, who wore matching light blue dresses. In the caption, Williams reflected on the moment, writing, “Joy does not always roar sometimes it whispers. It important to savor those sweet moments… I love this picture so I wanted to share it with you. 🫶🏿.”
Williams has also spoken about introducing Adira to tennis at an early age. In November, she posted photos of her younger daughter holding a mini tennis racket while dressed in tennis whites during a casual practice session. Williams captioned the post, “This is me sharing my passion for tennis with my youngest daughter.”
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In an April 2024 interview with Byrdie, Williams reflected on how motherhood has shifted her perspective and priorities. When asked what brings her the most happiness, she answered “my kids,” explaining that the experiences she shares with them now matter more than any professional accomplishment.
She also expressed hope that Olympia and Adira will grow up seeing that her identity extends beyond tennis, shaped as well by her passions in beauty, business, and other ventures outside the sport.
