The season-ending Nitto ATP Finals has started with all the hustle and bustle. Tennis fans are fixated to watch the first match between the two top-seeded players, Novak Djokovic, and Holger Rune. And of course, they can’t wait for the results to be out soon. However, there are other things that are coming up around the players that have caught our attention.

Sports is full of uncertainties. Be it tennis or any other sport that an athlete plays, the slightest of errors could prove to be costly for the players. The same happened with Megan Rapinoe as well. The American international, who shocked everyone with her skills and tricks played the last-ever match of her illustrative career. However, things did not go her way and she was forced to retire early.

During her illustrious career, Serena Williams won an impressive 23 Grand Slam singles titles, making her the most successful player in the Open Era. She has also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister, Venus Williams. Serena is known for her powerful serve, aggressive playing style, and her ability to come back from seemingly impossible situations. Her competitiveness and determination on the court are unmatched, and she has earned the respect of her fellow players and fans alike. Considering her impressive success, both on and off the court, one would think that the ‘Queen of the Court’ is devoid of weaknesses. However, that’s not the case, as she is well-known for her sweet tooth.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have one of the most romantic engagement stories. They first met in 2015 when Williams was playing in Rome. While they were having breakfast in the same room, the American tennis legend invited him to join her friends over breakfast. Their bond slowly grew as they started talking. Additionally, Ohanian was often spotted cheering for Williams while she was playing. Eventually, the Reddit co-founder proposed to her. What was special was the place of the proposal. It was the same hotel where they had first met. Recently, Alexis Ohanian’s foundation’s director reminisced about the special moment from that engagement.

Lissie Garvin, 776 Foundation and Fellowship director, has had an integral role to play in the relationship between Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. Here’s what she said about Alexis’ proposal.

Garvin first interviewed for an executive assistant role at Ohanian’s social media company, Reddit. However, Ohanian told Garvin that she would be working for his co-founder, Steve Huffman. Nonetheless, the two ended up working exclusively together and Garvin had a major part to play in Ohanian’s relationship with Serena Williams.

It was Garvin who organized their engagement trip to Rome when Alexis Ohanian decided to propose to Serena Williams. Later, she was there to capture the big moment of him proposing to the tennis legend. Recalling that moment, Garvin says, “I was literally, like, in the bushes.”

Alexis Ohanian’s sweet proposal would’ve made any girl in the world happy. However, Serena Williams was left angry following his proposal due to a bizarre reason.

Why was Serena Williams angry at Alexis Ohanian’s proposal?

Alexis Ohanian took Serena Williams on a trip to Rome in December 2016 for the surprise proposal. However, Williams was in the middle of her training season and was aiming to perform big at the Australian Open the following year.

Recalling why she was angry with Ohanian’s proposal, Serena Williams once said, “In fact, when he proposed, I was almost angry. Not almost, I was angry because it was right in the middle of my training season.  I was like, I’ve got to win the Australian Open. I can’t fly to Rome because he wanted to take me to Rome.”

Nonetheless, that proposal remains one of the special moments in Serena Williams’ life which she would cherish throughout. Eventually, it didn’t affect her performance at the Australian Open, as she went on to win the title Down Under.

Despite his heartbreaking Paris Masters finals defeat, Grigor Dimitrov won many hearts. The Bulgarian star put on a courageous display at the tournament but couldn’t get the better of Novak Djokovic in the summit clash. He went down fighting against the World Number 1 in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Following his defeat, he shared a heartwarming message to which legends, Venus and Serena Williams reacted. Seeing this, another tennis legend, Boris Becker had a pertinent question.

Serena Williams did not come from a rich background. However, she and her sister, Venus Williams, did not feel deprived of opportunities. Their parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price, made sure that the two girls would have whatever they needed to succeed. Realizing the importance of getting an opportunity, Williams has also focused on making sure many others around the world would not have to feel that they lack the chance to become something. She elaborated on this thought as she received an honor at the CFDA Fashion Awards.

Williams, along with her family, has taken part in many philanthropic events. Coming from poverty themselves, they want to ensure that they can help those who come from a similar background as theirs.

The Queen of the Court has attained immense success from the moment she became a player. She has earned a lot from her tennis exploits and her off-court ventures. Throughout her career, she has put whatever she has earned to good use as she aims to uplift those who have been dealt a cruel hand by life. On the red carpet and on her way to receiving the CFDA Fashion Icon award, Williams talked about why she works on helping others.

She said, “You know, if I never had an opportunity, then what would’ve happened to me. My parents gave me that opportunity. So sometimes it can be your parents or someone you look up to.”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion is one of the richest affluent in the world. Like many, she also aims to make sure those who are troubled will receive the appropriate help they need. One can see her drive for such activities as she often takes part in them, along with her sister, Venus Williams.

Charity ventures of the Williams sisters

If one were to try and track all charitable ventures of the Williams sisters, they would find themselves scrolling on the internet for hours on end, reading each one. They are often seen giving back to society. One of their recent ventures was done in honor of their late sister, Yetunde Price. Just a few months before her death anniversary, a showcase of American artist Ernie Barnes was held in order to raise money for the Yetunde Price Resource Center.

The resource center works with certified partners to offer trauma-informed programs that offer individual and community-wide healing. Along with this program, they have also made individual efforts to help those in need. Venus restored tennis courts with Lacoste in the New York Bronx, and Serena aims to help the minority with her venture capital business.

The Simona Halep doping controversy began in late 2022 and concluded recently. The Romanian was given a four-year ban for Roxadustat in her blood. Outrage over the sentence was immense, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) faced the brunt of it. However, some recent developments have shifted the anger. Patrick Mouratoglou, who used to coach Serena Williams and recently coached Halep, admitted to giving her supplements that contained a trace of the substance. Enraged, Halep fans have ripped him apart.

Halep’s fans did not like Mouratoglou much from the start. They had problems with him from the moment the provisional ban was given to Halep. Now, their dislike for him has increased manifold.

Recently, Patrick Mouratoglou said that he felt responsible for all issues faced by Halep. He and his team proposed to her that she take collagen. However, the collagen they brought for her was contaminated with traces of Roxadustat, and over time, the dosage made it discoverable in her blood. After a late confession, fans of the Romanian were furious as they ripped the French coach apart.

A fan who was livid with the French coach went on a lengthy tirade and called Mouratoglou a “coward.” They said that if he had been truthful from the beginning, no one would’ve hated Halep. After having no place to hide, he revealed the truth, and now the comment of Halep feeling betrayed makes sense. They further discussed Mouratoglou convincing Halep to sack her entire team and said he didn’t want her family in her corner.

They also mentioned Halep’s divorce, which happened a year after she joined forces with the French coach. They asked the WTA and the ITIA to ensure he and his academy were punished heavily.

Noticing the choice of his words, one fan said that he still does not take responsibility and only said that he “feels responsible.” Therefore, he is only making this statement to make sure his tennis empire stays strong, and the guilt in his mind is reduced.

Mouratoglou’s image has taken a big hit, and he and his academy are bound to be scrutinized going forward. But for Halep, the French coach is not a personality who is loved by her fans.

When Simona Halep was under a provisional ban after initial doping claims, her fans had become doubtful of the French coach. Their dislike for him only intensified when Mouratoglou joined hands with Rune in 2022. Many took to social media to lambast him, going as far as to call him a “bloodsucker” and saying he had to find a way to be in front of the cameras again.

After that incident, Halep congratulated their partnership after Rune won the 2022 Paris Masters. Her fans were displeased with her behavior and said that she had been brainwashed and was experiencing Stockholm Syndrome, as she said she was proud of her coach.

Mouratoglou already carried a troubling image in the hearts of Halep fans. Now, after his confession, any chance he might have had at redemption has slipped away and gone forever.

Serena Williams’ sister Venus Williams is not the one to shy away from making a bold compliment to another player. She has always had a way with words that come out very confident. And recently guess who she sent out a compliment to? Well, let’s just say, he is related to her sister’s past love life!

If you guessed it to be Grigor Dimitrov, then you are right. Recently, Dimitrov was in an interview at the Paris Masters and he got a compliment from Venus Williams, which only made him blush like a teenager. He could not help but smile as he continued to gather words to form an appropriate response.

Recently, Grigor Dimitrov was in an interview with Prakash Amritraj and he picked just the right moment to pose a fan question. Well, it was from Venus Williams. And the question was actually a flirtatious comment for Dimitrov.

Venus Williams had asked, “Why do I faint all the time when I see you? And I think you are the hottest on tour.”

Dimitrov had halfway realized that it was from Venus Williams started laughing and blushed. He responded, “Oh my god! Dear Venus, we need to do one of our online sessions (gym sessions).”

Even Amritraj could not help but jump into the conversation and ask to join the session. In fact, he even posted this video and tagged the Williams sisters and asked Serena Williams to join as she was invited, too. He wrote, “@venuswilliams Please text availabilities for this gym session 😄 @grigordimitrov & myself are ready 🤓… @serenawilliams is invited also 😜🤗”

It truly turned out to be a fun conversation, especially given that there seemed to be no distastefulness. Even though Serena Williams and Grigor Dimitrov have dated in the past, it did not seem that it was uncomfortable for him to answer a flirty comment from her ex-girlfriend’s sister.

This truly shows that Dimitrov and Williams broke up on good terms, as Dimitrov has previously also shared a heartfelt message for Serena Williams. Let’s check that out.

Dimitrov is all praises when it comes to the Williams sisters

Time and again Dimitrov has praised both the sisters immensely. He shared that both of them are amazing human beings and he has a great relationship with them. He also shared that he is very thankful whenever they come to cheer for him and support him. Further, Dimitrov mentioned that he has some great memories with them.

And he loves to pick their brain in terms of the game and mental toughness. He finds both sisters to be incredible and has nothing but good and positive feelings for them. The camaraderie between the Bulgarian and the Williams sisters is particularly surprising, considering that Dimitrov has also dated one of Serena’s archrivals, Maria Sharapova. But, what are your thoughts on Venus’ question and Dimitrov’s adorable reaction?