Alexis Ohanian introduced his wife Serena Williams to Google Calendar

USA: Being Serena premiere at HBO

One of the greatest gossip joys of the past five years is seeing Serena Williams married to a guy who absolutely worships her. When Serena first met Alexis Ohanian, she wasn’t even into him. He pursued her, and she was like “eh, I guess.” She knew when he was about to propose to her and she basically had to give herself a pep talk about it, because her instinct was to just go it alone, and not even get married. They welcomed their amazing daughter Olympia in 2017, and Serena has spent the last year trying to get back to the top of the tennis world. While I would love to see them have another baby, I think she’s going to wait a while. And all of that is fine with Alexis, who speaks freely about how their marriage is mostly based on her wants and needs and her career. Alexis explained how he’s just here to support Serena in a new Glamour interview:

His marriage secrets: “It’s often the simpler things that are the most important. You have to show up. You have to be supportive. These are the things that matter.” Ohanian is known for his grand gestures of romance and admiration for Williams, like putting up billboards to celebrate her first tournament after giving birth to their daughter, or sweeping her off to Italy. Yet he insists it’s the little things that matter most in a relationship.

He introduced her to Google Calendar! “Comparing calendars isn’t romantic, but at the start of every year, Serena and I map out our schedules so ideally there isn’t more than a week that we go without seeing other,” Ohanian says about prioritizing physical time with his wife, who he introduced to Google calendar.

He puts Serena’s career over his own: “I’m not the one racking up trophies…at the end of the day sometimes her career really does have to come first. I try to be the most supportive partner I can be and to have conversations with her about her career goals and what she can do to reach them.”

He took 16 weeks of parental leave when his daughter was born: He credits parental leave as one of the “most fundamental ways to “show up” for your partner and your family.” He knows most fathers are not afforded the privilege of parental leave, or choose not to take it, but believes it’s the best thing for the child and the couple. “It was incredible to spend quality time with Olympia, and it was perhaps even more meaningful to be there for my wife and to adjust to this new life we created together—especially after all the complications she had during and after the birth.” He continues to split parenting duties, spending the day with Olympia when Serena has an intense training day or a photo shoot.

He makes pancakes every Sunday: “The real scoop on “going big” for my wife would never go viral—it’s our simple Sunday tradition,” he says about making pancakes for his family every Sunday, just like his Dad did when he was growing up. “There are no phones, just conversation. And we’ll spend the day together lounging around the house, or playing hide-and-seek, or go for a swim in the pool. Just being a family on those days means so much to both of us—more than a billboard, a video montage, or a whirlwind trip to Italy.”

[From Glamour]

My favorite thing in the world now is that Alexis introduced Serena to Google Calendar. Serena is quite techy in general – I’m surprised she didn’t already know about it. As for the rest of it… what I love most about Serena and Alexis’s relationship is the relationship role reversal – there are a million examples of couples who “make sense” because the wife/girlfriend makes her life all about HIS career, his stuff. That’s the story of nearly every powerful or accomplished man, especially in sports. Serena and Alexis work as a couple because they both understand that everything needs to be about HER and her career. It’s great that little girls and grown women get to see that kind of example of what a relationship and marriage can be too.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red.

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18 Responses to “Alexis Ohanian introduced his wife Serena Williams to Google Calendar”

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  1. Valiantly Varnished says:

    I’m not really interested in a relationship at the moment but if I could find a guy like Alexis I would change my mind. They are such a great couple and I love how much he adores her and their baby girl. I also love that he runs the Real Qai Qai Twitter and Instagram accounts (at least that’s my suspicion) for Olympia’s baby doll. If you aren’t following those accounts you are missing out. They are hilarious.

  2. StellainNH says:

    I love how he is there for her. 💕. 💕

  3. Case says:

    I’ve liked Serena for a long time because she’s a big Green Day fan and so am I, lol. I love this couple so much. They seem to have such a healthy, real marriage but also don’t blab endlessly about how healthy and awesome it is like some other famous couples. He clearly worships her and is a good dad and that’s so wonderful. It’s unfortunately very rare to see.

  4. Lindy says:

    I love their relationship so much! I love how much he adores their life together, and respects her as a professional and as a mom.

    I also love Google calendar and my entire life runs on Google calendar + Trello. (Working mom of two kids means if it’s not on my calendar it’s not happening).

    Makes it so easy to coordinate with my husband. We create events, invite each other… Love it.

  5. Lynnie says:

    Maybe it’s cuz I hate clinginess and ott affection, but no one else gets kinda freaked out by all the big gestures he does? They give me Drake vibes a little lol

  6. Who ARE These People? says:

    My husband being there for my career, even the risks and the mistakes, has been one of the best things. His career took off later and it’s been an absolute pleasure to return the favor. Once he pulls back, then he’s going to help me again with one of my projects. I can’t wait.

    Serena has a limited time to go all-out. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she starts to put more energy into his world after she retires from full-time athletic competition.

  7. Tiffany says:

    I mean, let’s be real, he knew who he was making a life with. If he thought the greatest athlete of all times was going to quit for him, he would not have made it this far with her.

    • Who ARE These People? says:

      And he’s had his own success, is secure in his own sphere. This is a marriage of equals.

      • broodytrudy says:

        I would suggest reading about him in Forbes and Inquistr. He is not a great guy. Use the word “russia” and you’ll see. My comments keep getting deleted. 🙃

      • SK says:

        @broodytrudy – can you link to these articles? I googled him and Russia – nothing. The only articles I can find on him in Forbes and Inquistr were pretty positive and did not mention Russia. Most articles I have read about him are positive. To what are you referring?

  8. Surferosa says:

    I have to commend Alexis for being a male feminist. This is exactly what feminism is really all about: men treating women equally and vice versa. He knows there is an expiration date on her career and is willing to put her career first before it runs out. I’m thinking: HOW COOL IS THAT?? Later the tables may very likely turn and that is OK, too. This attitude is exactly what I am trying to instill in my two teenage boys. I put my husband’s career before mine when they were young; he travelled so much that at times I felt like a single mom. Three years ago I went back to school (online) and got my MA. My husband changed his job so he wouldn’t have to travel as much (and took a steep cut in pay so he could have a regular 9-5 job), because he understood that the next 10 years of our marriage was about putting my career first. We are trying very hard to set the example to our boys that marriage is 100% about giving and taking; both the husband and wife have to take turns being the top priority. We need more examples of male feminists like Alexis vocalizing how cool it is to put your woman and her needs first!