Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s love story perfectly showcases the saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
That’s exactly the case with their relationship that began with a playful twist. The WTA legend took the lead in steering their romance forward, although she humorously denied it later. Her determined husband picked on her, teasing his wife in a light-hearted way that only showcased how charming they were as a couple.
Ohanian took a funny dig at his wife, Serena Williams’ hilarious response to who first dropped the “L” word in their relationship. Their love story began in Rome in 2015 when Williams sat at a poolside table for breakfast in the Cavalieri Hotel and noticed the Reddit co-founder nearby. “That big guy comes and he just plops down at the table next to us,” the WTA legend recalled. “I’m like, ‘Huh, all these tables and he is sitting here?’” This unexpected encounter transformed into a romance that led Ohanian to propose to Williams in December 2016 at the same hotel. Now, reflecting on their relationship, Williams’ husband said, “I felt like a door had been opened to a person who made me want to be my best self. I find myself just wanting to be better by simply being around her because of the standard she holds.”
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Recently, the couple revisited their “L-word” debate during a glucose monitoring session with Lingo biosensors. Asked who said it first, Williams cheekily wrote her husband’s name, while he pointed to her. “Come on now, you going to lie on this?” Ohanian teased, calling his wife out. Unfazed, Williams smiled, “I said I will be honest.” Ohanian firmly responded, “That’s not the honest answer. I still remember that phone call. You know I felt the same way, but you definitely said it first.” Williams, offering a humorous twist, confirmed, “My glucose was high.” Ohanian then corrected her with a grin, “Tequila,”. However, the former player still continued, “I had some gelato. My glucose was too high, next thing I know I’m calling this guy and I’m like saying things I wouldn’t normally say, ‘I love you…’” Ohanian later shared the moment on IG with the caption: “The big question… tries to get away with saying I’m the one who dropped the L-word first, but we all know the truth… high glucose or not.” The post garnered over 5,000 likes within two hours, with Ohanian’s followers praising him as a loving husband and father.
his playful exchange between Serena Williams and her husband highlighted their sense of humor and also revealed how Williams made the first move twice—first in Rome and later on their first date—showing how Ohanian’s charm swept her off her feet both times.
After their serendipitous meeting in Rome, Williams and Ohanian’s connection deepened, transforming in another bold move—this time again by Williams. While attending the Roland Garros, the former WTA world number one invited Ohanian to meet her in Paris. Despite being impressed by the gesture, the Reddit co-founder approached his Paris trip with low expectations. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he revealed his true feelings: “Even if she blows me off and we don’t even hang out, I’m still going to have an amazing time in Paris, and I’ll have an even better story for all my childhood friends. I’d tell them, ‘Yeah, I went to Paris for a weekend. I was supposed to meet up with Serena Williams, she blew me off, but I’ve got other friends there, and we had a great time.’” Fortunately, Ohanian’s fears didn’t turn into reality. the WTA legend met him, and the couple spent six memorable hours strolling the streets of the City of Love.
Despite Williams’ refusal to admit the truth, her reaction toward Ohanian shows how much she admires and loves her husband. Their marriage recently completed seven years showing how a light-hearted bond that started with fun transformed into a healthy relationship and now inspires generations about family.
