She is preparing to become a mother for the first time, and on Monday Serena Williams took to her Instagram to pen a beautiful message to her unborn child. The tennis champion, 35, described her pregnancy as the "best feeling" as she revealed she has moved back to the number one spot on the newest WTA rankings. Alongside a picture of herself cradling her blossoming bump, she wrote: "My Dearest Baby, You gave me the strength I didn't know I had. You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace."
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She added: "I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait for you to join the players box next year. But most importantly, I am so happy to share being number one in the world with you.... once again today. On @alexisohanian bday. From the world's oldest number one to the world's youngest number one. -Your mummy." [sic] Serena announced her pregnancy via Snapchat last week, after sharing a selfie in a yellow swimsuit which showed off her baby bump. In the caption, she simply wrote, "20 weeks". Serena's spokesperson has since told New York Times that the pregnant star will miss the 2017 season, but plans to return in 2018.
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The seven-time Wimbledon winner is expecting her first child with her fiancé Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit. The couple announced their engagement back in December, with Serena writing: "I came home/ A little late/ Someone had a bag packed for me/ And a carriage awaited. Destination: Rome/ To escort me to my very own 'charming'/ Back to where our stars first collided. And now it was full circle/ At the same table we first met by chance/ This time he made it not by chance/ But by choice/ Down on one knee/ He said 4 words/ And I said yes." Alexis responded to the post, writing: "And you made me the happiest man on the planet."