Tennis superstar Serena Williams is pregnant and expecting to deliver her first baby this northern autumn, the world number two revealed on Social Media network, Snapchat on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old posted a photo of herself in a bathing suit on Snapchat with the caption “20 weeks”.
This means that Williams was approximately two months pregnant when she won her record 23rd Grand Slam tournament title at the Australian Open in January.
Though the American who will return to the No. 1 ranking in the world next week, later deleted the photo, it is believed that she will miss most of the remaining tennis season if she is indeed “20 weeks” into her term. These include three Grand Slams: the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
Reacting to Williams message, US Open Tennis wrote: “@serenawilliamswill have a new pride & joy to hug and call her own soon! Congratulations on the exciting baby announcement!”
Meanwhile, other female tennis stars have left the tour to have children and returned at a high level, though none has done so at Williams’ age.
Belgian player Kim Clijsters retired and had a child before coming back at age 26 and winning three Grand Slam titles as a mother.
Similarly, Margaret Court and Australians Evonne Goolagong also won Grand Slam titles after having children.
Former No.1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 27, missed most of the 2016 season to have a baby and is expected to return to the tour this summer.
Williams, who has played professionally for two decades, is engaged to Reddit founder, Alexis Ohanian.
