14 Sep 2017

Wiliams releases picture of baby girl

6:22 am on 14 September 2017

American tennis star Serena Williams has released the first images of her newborn daughter Alexis.

Serena Williams and her newborn daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

Serena Williams and her newborn daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Photo: Serena Williams - Instagram

The 23-time grand slam singles champion gave birth to her first child on September 1st.

Williams and her fiance Alexis Ohanian have named their daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

Williams posted a picture on her Instagram page showing her cradling her daughter while the couple also shared a video.

Beginning with Williams finding out she was pregnant, the video includes the 36-year-old winning her most recent grand slam title at the Australian Open while expecting.

It finishes with Williams leaving the hospital after six days and an announcement of the baby's name, date of birth, weight (6lb 14 oz), and number of grand slam titles (one).

Williams revealed there were "a lot of complications", which could potentially affect her hopes of returning to the tour in time to defend her Australian Open title in January.

The former world No.1 trained through her pregnancy and has her sights set on overtaking Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 slam singles titles.

"She says she still has things to achieve in tennis. She is both a tennis player and a mother, and she has to deal with both of them. She wants to be able to win slams otherwise she will stop," Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou told Eurosport last week.

"Because she is a champion, it is very difficult when you are used to being at the top of the game to accept being more average, with all the respect I have for the players. That is the great challenge for the next months, year and maybe years.

We will see.

"For Serena, anything is possible. I cannot put any kind of limit on her. Any time I've thought she won't make it, she did. Which I don't do any more."

-Reuters