Serena Williams magnificently graces the cover of the latest issue of Vanity Fair in all of her beautiful, pregnant glory. While the magazine's cover photo was enough to just about break the internet, the accompanying story was even more revealing.
Written by Buzz Bissinger, the 23-time Grand Slam champion opened up for the first time about her relationship with fiancé (and Reddit co-founder) Alexis Ohanian, her pregnancy and her tentative timetable to returning to tennis.
Here are our favorite takeaways:
1. Williams and Ohanian have maybe the best meeting story ever. Both staying at the same hotel while in Rome in 2015 -- Williams for the Italian Open and Ohanian for a conference. Then, a "slightly hungover" Ohanian happened to sit at the table next to Williams and her entourage outside by the hotel pool for breakfast. Williams's squad told him there was a rat by his table in hopes of getting him to move. It didn't work.
Like all great romances begin, he asked if it was true and Williams answered: "No, we just don't want you sitting there. We're going to use that table." "I'm from Brooklyn. I see rats all the time," Ohanian replied. Intrigued, Williams then asked him to sit with them. She was convinced he was into her friend, but gave him her number because she had asked for website advice.
2. Ohanian had never watched a tennis match until he met Williams. While cheering on Williams for the first time at the Italian Open, he posted a picture on Instagram of her foot faulting -- and didn't realize that wasn't exactly the most opportune time to showcase the match.
3. Williams was disappointed Ohanian didn't get to see her play her signature dominant style of tennis so she asked him to attend the French Open a few weeks later. Before the tournament, the pair ended up having their first date -- a leisurely six-hour stroll around Paris. C'est romantique!
4. She FaceTimed Ohanian to wish him a happy birthday in April of 2016. As a Jehovah's Witness, she doesn't acknowledge or celebrate birthdays so he knew it was a big deal that she was recognizing his.
5. Ohanian realized his 18-hour days at the office were nothing compared to the daily pressure she faces as a world-class athlete. Her dedication to her craft inspired him, and he "found himself wanting to be better by simply being around her because of the standard she holds." If that doesn't say "MARRIAGE MATERIAL," then nothing does.
6. Like everything in Serena's life, it was a team effort for Ohanian to pull off the perfect proposal. Wanting to recreate their first meeting at the hotel in Rome, she was going to meet him there after an exhibition in India in December. After the exhibition was cancelled, it no longer made sense so it required her agent, her assistant and some guy named Tommy Hilfiger (of course, right?) to help pull off the backup plan. Convincing her she was going on a surprise getaway with Ohanian, Williams went to Rome. He asked the question by the very same pool they had first met -- complete with a plastic rat on the table. Have you ever said, "Awwwww" when reading something about a plastic rat before?
7. Serena is a whiz at multitasking. Williams wasn't feeling well leading up to the Australian Open. A friend suggested she take a pregnancy test, and the 23-time Grand Slam winner took it to prove her wrong and because, "It's fun. Whatever. It's like a joke," Williams remembered thinking.
She took the test while getting ready for an event and completely forgot about it. When she finally remembered 90 MINUTES LATER, she "did a double take." She was so convinced it wasn't right, she had the same friend go back and buy more tests. She gave the six positive test to Ohanian in a paper bag.
8. Her first thought was peak Williams: "Oh my God, this can't be -- I've got to play a tournament. How am I going to play the Australian Open? I had planned on winning Wimbledon this year."
She kept the news very quiet in Melbourne, telling only Ohanian, sister Venus and her agent -- and of course her friend who had bought her all the tests. She didn't even tell her coach the news.
That didn't stop her from earning her 23rd Grand Slam title either, and winning every match in straight sets.