"There are certain people I wouldn't mind approaching me" - When teenage Serena Williams adorably encouraged boys to ask her out for a date

Serena Williams once admitted that while she liked to appear unapproachable to intimidate her opponents, she would occasionally make an exception—especially for boys. She shared this in a lighthearted manner when she was just 17 years old.

Serena and her sister Venus were often perceived as having unapproachable personalities, particularly during intense match moments, with opponents, and even with the media. This was likely driven by their fierce competitiveness, which led them to prioritize success above all else, including interactions with colleagues, especially other female players.

In a 1999 interview with Sports Illustrated, Serena Williams acknowledged her tough persona but made an exception for the boys. She joked that while she was too "busy" to date anyone at the time, she wouldn’t mind them approaching her.

"I'd prefer it for people to regard me as unapproachable. Of course, there are certain people I wouldn't mind approaching me if you know what I mean," she said.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion previously dated Drake, Common, and Brett Ratner before settling down in 2017. She was also rumored to have been together with Grigor Dimitrov, although neither party confirmed the relationship.

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Serena Williams found true love in Alexis Ohanian

Serena Williams pictured with her family at the 2022 US Open | Image Source: Getty

Serena Williams and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian first crossed paths in September 2015 during the Italian Open, and their relationship blossomed from there. They married on November 16, 2017, in New Orleans, and soon after, they became parents to their daughter, Alexis Olympia Jr., later that same year.

During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2022, Williams recalled her first meeting with Ohanian. She shared that she was at an Italian restaurant with her friends when they first encountered him. Initially, they tried to brush him off, thinking he was annoying.

"So we were at this restaurant, and I was in Italy and this guy shows up, and the whole place is empty. This guy, like, really tall, he comes with his computer and he, like, plops down right next to us. He opens his computer and starts typing, and I’m just like, 'Why?' I was so angry... I was like, 'Why is this guy here?' And so we tried to get rid of him," she said.

"You know, my friend was like, 'Listen, there’s a rat over there.' He’s an Aussie, he was like, ‘Oh my God! There’s a rat! [in Australian accent]' and I’m like, ‘Ya there’s a rat!’ and Alexis looks and doesn’t flinch, and I’m like, ‘You’re not afraid of rats?’ And he’s like, ‘Umm no I’m from Brooklyn,' I guess he always knew I was full of stuff. And so then, that’s how we met. I was trying to get rid of him," she added.

In 2023, the power couple expanded their family with the arrival of their second child, a baby daughter named Adira.