Aryna-Serena! Although a homophonic pair of names but with a completely different history. The crowd had a big laugh when Jessica Pegula mistook the pronunciation of Aryna Sabalenka for that of “Serena”. However, as the final showdown commenced, the 30-year-old was forced to admit that the levels of dominance she faced against “the Tiger” were nothing less than that of the American tennis great.

Monday in Cincinnati turned out to be a tough day for Jessica Pegula as she faced a dominant Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. Despite her best efforts, the American WTA star couldn’t find a way past the Belarusian powerhouse, eventually facing a defeat with a final scoreline of 6-3, 7-5. Along with breaking Pegula’s commendable 9-match win streak, the Tiger also made her admit to the core levels of her dominance.

The 30-year-old graciously accepted the runner-up trophy and therefore reflected on the lighthearted moment from the semi-final post-match interview. “Funny, Andrew [Krasny] said Aryna, and I thought he said Serena, but it felt like Serena today with the way you were serving there for a little bit, so I don’t know, I may have wanted Serena instead of Aryna [laughs],” Pegula joked, as she acknowledged Sabalenka’s powerful serves in the match, which according to her were comparable to that of Serena Williams.

This humorous exchange was a continuation of an earlier conversation that took place when Pegula defeated Paula Badosa to secure her spot in the final. When asked about her thoughts on facing Sabalenka in the post-match interview, Pegula paused, looking a bit startled, before saying, “Erm, I thought you said Serena.” Krasny then playfully added, “Yeah, so here’s a surprise, ladies and gentlemen, Serena…” to which Pegula laughed and responded, “I mean, you never know.”

As Sabalenka attained a 6-3, 5-3 lead in the last set, her serve stats came were commendable. She managed to secure a remarkable number by winning 27 out of 29 first-serve points, which makes it an impressive 93.1% success rate. Even Tennis Channel’s Lindsay Davenport could not stop herself from appreciating Sabalenka’s dominance. “I’m not sure anyone can withstand this when a player is playing this well,” she said. This statement was also influenced by top-ranked Iga Swiatek’s 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Sabalenka in the semifinals.

“..I suddenly felt unwelcome, alone, and afraid,” Serena Williams said while recalling her 2001 Indian Wells final match. She thought it would be her game, where she would once again summon the same magic she had against Steffi Graf in the 1999 Indian Wells final. Instead, controversies plagued the match, leaving an indelible scar on Williams’ psyche. This traumatic experience led to a long-standing boycott of the tournament. Yet, a shift in perspective would eventually bring Williams back. What prompted this change of heart?

In the 6th episode of ESPN’s docuseries ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams,’ we witness the story of one of Williams’ hauntingly difficult times in her tennis career. For context. Williams, the then nineteen-year-old player who had turned pro only about 6 years ago, had to face the boos and jeering of the crowd during her 2001 Indian Wells final match against Kim Clijsters. Even her father, Richard, also had to go through the same humiliating experience, as he later confessed to hearing racist comments in the stands during the clash. The reason was simple. Just before her final game, Serena played against her own sister, Venus, in the semifinals. But sadly, she had to pull out from the match due to her tendinitis problem. This created outrage among fans, who made it clear to Williams that she was unwelcomed in the finals.

Sharing those cold memories of the event and about the moment Williams decided to go back into the event, Williams’ elder sister, Isha Price, said, “I remember her saying I think I am going to go back to Indian Wells. And I said what? Why? And she was like, we are Christian. At some point, you have to forgive and you have to move on. Another time where you learn something from your little sister…And I said, if this is what you want to do, I will be there hands down to support you.”

Echoing the same sentiment, the 23 Grand Slam champion added, “I was not going to go back if my family did not agree with me or did not want me to go back. So I had to talk to everyone separately and to see how they felt. Everyone else was on board. I remember talking finally and lastly to my dad.” She further added how her father was willing to support her but was not ready “physically to go back there.” 

The boos was just the half of the story. The false allegations regarding their matches to be “fixed,” further made it more miserable to bear for the Williams family. “Throughout my whole career, integrity has been everything to me. It is also everything and more to Venus. The false allegations that our matches were fixed hurt, cut and ripped into us deeply. The undercurrent of racism was painful, confusing and unfair,” she said later on.

Along with her sister, Venus, Williams boycotted the event for 14 long years until, in 2015, she made a much-awaited comeback. It was her Jehovah’s Witness faith which made her see the reason to believe in forgiveness and come back. The 42-year-old American once stated how she was “raised,” by her mother to “love and forgive freely.” However, even after all the darkness that preceded it, Williams’ Indian Wells tournament did not prove to be a smooth journey!

Here’s why Williams had to withdraw from the 2015 Indian Wells semifinals

After years of avoiding playing in Indian Wells, Williams finally came to the event, with the hope, “fans at Indian Wells have grown with the game and know me better than they did in 2001.” The tournament indeed welcomed her with open arms and Williams showed her brilliance once again by qualifying to the semifinals of the event. And then fate intervened the same way as it did in 2001.

While during that year it was Venus who had to withdraw owing to her knee injury, almost 14 years later, Williams also faced the same destiny. Before playing against Simona Halep, the eventual champion of the tournament, Williams made a disheartening announcement.

“Four months ago I began a journey to play Indian Wells and it was amazing. I never dreamed I could do it. But I would not have been able to do this without my fans. Though it ended early due to injury this year, I have to say I cannot wait to try again next year. Thanks everyone. I love you so much!”

However, by returning to Indian Wells, Williams triumphed over adversity, silencing critics and inspiring fans worldwide. Her courageous stance serves as a testament to the transformative impact of forgiveness and self-reflection!

The spotlight has always been on Serena Williams‘. But lately, it seems the tennis superstar is enjoying the thrill of sharing the limelight with her daughter, Olympia. However, in a surprising turn of events, Serena is about to expose a side of her little one that no one expected. A secret so embarrassing, it’s sure to become the talk of the town.

Williams recently shared a sweet and playful update about her daughter Olympia Ohanian. The tennis legend took to social media platform X and therefore revealed a secret that Olympia wouldn’t really appreciate. The little girl, it turns out, has a habit of sleep talking. With a touch of humor, Serena hinted at the potential for future blackmail, leaving fans both amused and curious about Olympia’s nocturnal revelations:

Per medical reports, sleep talking is quite common in children, especially between the ages of two and twelve. Often triggered by exhaustion, these sleep-time conversations tend to decrease as kids get older. While it might be a regular occurrence for some younger children, it usually becomes a rare event by the time they reach their teens. However, the fans who regularly follow Alexis and Serena wouldn’t find this too surprising.

Olympia has been keeping quite busy with her dad, Alexis Ohanian, having fun and learning new things every day. Alexis regularly shares glimpses of their fun times on Instagram. Whether it’s making pancakes or going out to the garden on weekends, the father-daughter enjoys a packed schedule along with giving fans enough updates to be entertained.

The family also made headlines at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony recently. While Serena looked stunning in a beautiful red dress, her husband Alexis held an umbrella for her and Olympia, uncovering the chivalrous side of his nature. Alexis posted a picture on his Instagram with the caption, “I’m also Olympia’s personal umbrella holder. Sidebar: Y’all set the bar too low for me celeb dads get flowers just for acknowledging they have kids.”

With this update, it’s clear that even at such a young age, Olympia is living a life filled with fun and memorable experiences that even stay in her mind while she sleeps. However, besides the fun and adventure that Olympia delves into, she also has responsibility worth millions of dollars at such a young age.

Williams’ husband reveals how his daughters are now multi-millionaires

Reddit co-founder shared that his daughters Olympia and Adira have become multi-millionaires because of an early investment he made. The Reddit co-founder invested $250,000 in the soccer team Angel City FC through a trust fund for his daughters almost four years ago. This smart move helped Olympia to become the youngest owner in professional sports. Talking about the success of the investment in a recent tweet, Ohanian said

Today, his daughters Olympia(7) and Adira(1) are already enjoying the benefits of their father’s business decisions. As the renowned entrepreneur continues to build a strong future for his kids, it still remains to be seen if they decide to follow sports like their mother or finances like their father.

From carrying the Olympic torch across the river Seine to watching Simone Biles’ terrific comeback, women’s volleyball, Novak Djokovic becoming the greatest, and having a fun time in Paris. Serena Williams is back in town. And at home, some mommy duties await for the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Well, it’s not like Olympia and Adira were a miss in Paris. The mother of two frequently appeared with her elder daughter, enjoying the Olympics from the stands. But now the vacation time is over, and Williams is back to mom mode! And she found support in Pau Gasol’s wife, Catherine McDonnell (Gasol).

It’s not an easy task to manage professional commitments and be a parent at the same time. However, with the constant support of her husband, Alexis Ohanian, Williams had a relatively easy outing, as the father enjoyed going on a few escapades with their daughters. Disneyland was certainly one of them, where Ohanian skipped athletics to keep the promise with his girls.

However, the fun times are over for the family. And Williams is back to being a business mom, but before everything, she makes sure that her mommy duties are fulfilled. In a recent post on Instagram, dressed in an all black ensemble, Williams captioned the post, “Paris was fun … now back to being a mum .” And the former basketball player’s wife, Catherine made sure to remind her, that she was a mommy back in Paris too. Albeit a good one. She commented, “But you were even momming in Paris you bad***”

McDonell is herself a mom of two kids who she shares with Pau Gasol. Paying tribute to the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, the couple named their daughter, born in 2020, Elisabet Gianna Gasol, while their son Max was born in 2022.

It’s heartwarming to see moms supporting each other. As a public figure, it’s certainly tough, as their every move is under scrutiny. But Williams has managed things with utmost perfection, as she transitioned into an entrepreneur while supporting the vast community through Serena Ventures. However, when she looks back into the time, having kids was not on Williams’ mind.

Serena Williams took a big leap: From the thought of not having kids to fulfilling mommy duties

Things are not as black and white as they seem to be. There are always some shades of gray. When Williams was thriving on the court, winning Grand Slams, having kids was not something she ever thought of, “Earlier in my career, I never thought about having kids.” Why? If her life is a testament, her struggles to make her mark in the tennis circuit are enough to answer all the whys. But now, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has a beautiful family, and she is a hands-on mother to her kids.

During a Vogue interview back in 2023, Williams opened up about her mommy duties with the Olympics. She said, “I’m not going to lie—I definitely have a lot of support. But I’m also an incredibly hands-on mother. My husband will tell you I am too hands-on. In five years, Olympia has only spent one 24-hour period away from me… I got to pick her up from school four or five days a week, and I always looked forward to seeing her face light up when she walked out of the building and saw me waiting there for her. The fact is that nothing is a sacrifice for me when it comes to Olympia.”

After Olympia, Williams has another bundle of joy occupying all her attention, Adira. And she would be on a repeat mode as the youngest member of the family grows. No wonder she updated the world about her mommy mode being on after a successful Paris Olympics.

Is there any downside to winning? Well, Serena Williams feels so. Back in 2015, the American tennis legend was in the form of her life and won the Australian Open, the French Open, and the Wimbledon Championships that season. Subsequently, she was a hot favorite to win the US Open and complete the Calendar Year Grand Slam. However, in one of the biggest upsets of her career, she went down fighting against Roberta Vinci of Italy in the semifinals of the US Open. Nine years after that heartbreaking defeat, the memories of that loss still haunt Williams.

The American legend was so used to winning that she couldn’t absorb the shocking loss against Vinci. As a result, Williams feels that it is difficult to lose when you win more. Describing this point in her docu-series ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams’, she says, “It doesn’t in the way it does in the movies and no matter how much I feel like it could and should no matter how much I do different, it wasn’t my story. Winning is so glamorous and everyone thinks it’s so amazing when you win. But the more you win, the harder it is to lose. I don’t think I was able to move on from that US Open loss. I was just so angry and so sad and so disappointed with myself.”

Interestingly, that wasn’t the only time Williams won three major titles in a season. She achieved a similar feat in 2002 but missed the Australian Open that year due to an injury. Despite scars from the 2015 US Open loss still alive, Williams once revealed why it wasn’t a loss for her.

Tough pill to swallow for Serena Williams

Williams was the defending champion in the 2015 US Open and entered the tournament on the back of 4 successive Grand Slam title victories. None would’ve expected Williams to lose to an unseeded player but as things turned out, it was Vinci who stopped the American legend’s rampaging run. Despite being difficult, Williams took it in her stride and credited Vinci for the sensational win.

She went on to say, “We should be happy for each other, you know what I mean? We gotta build up each other. We can’t be angry. I mean, I won four Grand Slam (tournaments) in a row, and got to the semis in another one, and I’ve done that twice. I mean how many people have done that? So, yeah, it wasn’t a loss for me, it was a win and a learning experience.”

Very few athletes in the sporting world have had the habit of winning consistently as Williams did. She was barely outplayed in her career and put up a fight even when being on the losing side. Indeed, she is the one whom the young players can look up to for inspiration.

“There are two humans now whose opinion I really care about, and they’re my kids.” These heartfelt words from Serena Williams‘s husband, Alexis Ohanian, encapsulate his profound devotion to his daughters, Olympia and Adira. Imagine being at the pinnacle of your career, with a calendar brimming with high-stakes meetings, groundbreaking projects, and monumental decisions. Yet, amidst all this chaos, Ohanian always finds a way to prioritize his daughters.

Ohanian’s love for sports is not new. And that can be reflected in his personal life as well ever since the  41-year-old married the tennis star. But besides tennis, he is equally a dedicated fan of Track and Field, an important event at the Paris Olympics. However, despite his love for the sport, he has failed to appear at the event albeit being in Paris. And the reason? His daughters Olympia and Adira. Taking to his Instagram, Ohanian shared a video of himself as he discussed the Paris Olympics.

Speaking in the video, he said, “Alright, today is the start of the Olympic track and field. Now I am actually at Disneyland Paris right now because I promised my girls.” This clearly highlights that the ‘Business dad’ will not be able to make it to the games but he desires to multitask. “But I will be catching some of that later on,” he further said in the video.

And this recent gesture of Ohanian reflects the change of worldview that he has often talked about. Speaking on his podcast Business Dad in June, Ohanian revealed the change of perspectives he encountered because of his daughters. “With two daughters, I have my whole worldview turned upside down. And it was so eye-opening and I love it. They are such sweet, kind, wonderful creatures. I just love them.” He has also revealed his desire to spend as much time as possible with his kids as and when possible.

For the unversed, Ohanian also announced that if any of the 36 female athletes who are part of his Athlos NYC sportswear brand, win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, he would pay them $60,000 as a reward. Earlier, he had revealed that his venture capital firm Seven Seven Six is investing in women’s track with the 776 Invitational. Scheduled to take place at the end of September, the event aims to modernize the sport and its fandom. The prize money will be $60,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place in each event.

Despite being unable to mark his presence at the Olympic event, Ohanian has ensured to extend his support to the female athletes. Furthermore, he also wished good luck to the Track and Field athlete Veronica Fraley. Speaking in the video, Ohanian said, “Veronica, we are gonna be cheering for you. Get out there, throw that disc, be great.” Ohanian recently teamed up with Flavor Flav to help Fraley pay her rent after she revealed the challenges she was facing.

I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent,” Fraley wrote on X on Aug. 1. “My school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything) enough to buy new cars and houses.” Her post caught the eye of Flav, who replied that he would help her. “I gotchu… DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW… and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!” he wrote.

As the tournament progresses, it would be interesting to see if the Reddit co-founder would take a break from his fatherly responsibilities and attend his favorite event in Paris.

Chris ‘Mad Dog‘ Russo tuned in for the season’s most anticipated match on Monday, July 29. However, to much surprise, his experience was derailed by Serena Williams‘ coach, Rennae Stubbs, as he found himself chagrined by her coverage. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal locked horns for a record 60th career meet at Court Philippe Chatrier at the 2024 Paris Olympics in a ‘probable last dance.‘ However, the commentary was not up to par for one viewer.

While spectating the legendary tennis duo’s much-awaited spectacle, Russo was not impressed by Stubbs’ commentary. So much so that Mad Dog blasted the Australian coach for an entire segment of his podcast. The sports analyst went on a lengthy rant to address her “atrocious performance.”

The American notably stated that the 53-year-old “never shut up“ throughout the match, ruining the showdown for him. “I watched the match this morning on Peacock and despite the fact that Rennae Stubbs did everything in her power to absolutely ruin it and never shut up and was, poor Mary Carillo, did an awful job.”

Later, he reiterated his stance by claiming that the former Australian tennis player shouldn’t have commentated after every single point owing to fans’ acquittance with Nadal and Djokovic’s rivalry. “I know what’s going on with the crowd liking Nadal. I understand. I’m a tennis fan. I’m into it. I don’t need her every single point.”

However, Stubbs later caught wind of Mad Dog’s comments, and she did not take kindly to his remarks. The analyst criticized Russo for his “misogynist“ words. After acknowledging his opinion, the NBC commentator reposted a user’s comment on X that claimed the former’s rant as “toxic, misogynist nonsense.“ Later, she also took to her social media handle to address the situation first-hand, notably outlining the American’s remarks as ‘sexist‘. However, that wasn’t the end of it.

Chris Russo hits back at Serena Williams’ ex-coach

Russo was still on air when he discovered the tennis analyst’s response and took his comments up a notch. Mad Dog claimed that his opinion was not sexist because his criticism was solely focused on Stubbs and not her broadcast partner, Mary Carillo. “Now I’m annoyed. How in the world can you call me a sexist if I say great things about Carillo and bad things about her?”

He later retorted by rhetorically questioning how a sports talk personality like him can not be privy to make remarks on other broadcasters. “To sit there and say I can’t comment about a broadcaster when I’ve done that for 47 years? Come on.“

The Serb concluded the former World No. 1’s challenge in straight sets. As for Stubbs, regardless of Mad Dog’s opinion, will stay as the official commentator for upcoming clashes at the quadrennial event in Paris. Will she find favor in the Mad Dog anytime soon?

A meager 1.5 kg separated Mercedes from reveling in a flawless Belgian GP weekend. George Russell’s bold strategy call for a 1-stop race saw him cross the chequered flag to take the crown of Spa with teammate Lewis Hamilton reluctantly accepting P2. But his victory was as temporary as an F1 car’s pit lane presence during a pit stop. During the post-race FIA checks, the 26-year-old’s W15 was 1.5 kg below the minimum car weight of 798 kg. The stewards disqualified him and Hamilton inherited the win, which was initially his to take if not for Russell’s 1-stop. After this announcement, the 7-time champion’s heartfelt statement for his ‘heartbroken’ teammate drew close confidante Serena Williams’ attention.

Icons of their sports, Williams and Hamilton, have been close friends forever. In 2023, the Mercedes driver revealed how “lonely” it can be at the “top of your sport”. But conversing with 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams was where he found solace. The former American Olympian, who is making headlines for gracing the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, cheered for her friend’s success remotely.

After Russell’s disqualification, Hamilton penned a sweet post for him and Mercedes on Instagram. “Mixed feelings for today’s result. Obviously happy to get the win but I feel for George and it’s disappointing for the team not to get the 1-2.” Humbly accepting his victory, he also appreciated the team’s efforts to propel themselves to the top spot. A lot of positives to take from today, though. At the start of the weekend, we didn’t expect to be at the front or the pace we had, so it’s great to see just how much progress has been made and that we are in the fight. We take all these positives with us into the break and will come back a stronger team ready to keep the momentum going.”

Taking to the comments section, Serena Williams quite succinctly lauded his success. Encapsulating her emotions in an emoji-only message, she wrote: “”. This isn’t how Hamilton would’ve envisioned himself winning the Belgian for the 5th time, but loving messages from his friends and fans made up for it. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff’s reaction was also quite heartening.

Toto Wolff labels Lewis Hamilton the “deserving winner” at Spa

George Russell cannot catch a break. The future Mercedes lead driver took two pole positions in 2024, only to lose it both times. He emerged victorious in Austria, but that too didn’t feel deserved enough because he inherited P1 when the Top 2 collided. Finally, when all these events culminated in a masterclass at the Belgian GP, Mercedes’ “mistake in their calculations”, as Red Bull boss Christian Horner described it, cost him.

Even though Russell got disqualified despite taking a deserved victory, Lewis Hamilton fans felt otherwise. Because the 7-time champion lost the race lead after Mercedes agreed to Russell’s 1-stop suggestion, the LH army believes their hero was robbed. Eventually, their wishes were granted. Though Toto Wolff apologized to his younger driver, he emphasized how his Ferrari-bound champ deserved P1.

“We will go away, evaluate what happened, and understand what went wrong. To lose a 1-2 is frustrating and we can only apologize to George, who drove such a strong race,” the Austrian said at Spa. “Lewis is, of course, promoted to P1. He was the fastest guy on the two-stop and is a deserving winner. Despite the disqualification, there are many positives we can take from this weekend.”

The Silver Arrows have won three of the last four races. When F1 returns to the Netherlands after the summer break, Mercedes will look to double down on this momentum. However, toppling the reigning champion, Max Verstappen, on his home turf would be a mammoth task. If nothing, at least, this controversy will be behind them. However, changing how Hamilton fans view Mercedes might be right back on their PR agenda.