Who wouldn’t want to slide into the September issue?
Serena Williams covers the coveted September issue of Vogue this year — making the surprise announcement she’s retiring from tennis in an article she penned for the magazine — and her 4-year-old daughter, Olympia Ohanian, managed to get in on the action, holding her mother’s train in the stunning photo.
Wearing a pale blue Balenciaga gown with long tassel earrings, the tennis great poses barefoot on the beach with her hands on hips for the cover — and if readers open the magazine’s flap, they’ll find little Olympia wearing a white dress, with her face hidden by mom’s billowing train.
In an Instagram post, Williams, 40, shared her big Vogue moment and some thoughts about the new chapter she’s facing.
“Vogue. September issue Cover,” she wrote. “There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.”
In another Instagram post, she shared two other photos from the oceanside shoot, wearing a beachy crocheted Wales Bonner dress in one shot and a sleek white Ralph Lauren Collection gown in another.
It’s no surprise the Olympic gold medalist — who married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017 — had her little one join in for the Vogue action.
Olympia frequently features on Williams’ Instagram feed, and instead of mentioning her tennis accomplishments, the proud mother of one’s bio reads: “I’m Olympia’s mom.”
Focusing on her family, the famed athlete says, is the reason she’s decided to leave tennis.
“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she wrote in Vogue. “I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.”
Although they didn’t twin for Vogue, Williams and her daughter often sport matching outfits, like the pink Balmain creations they rocked during Paris Fashion Week this year or the David Koma jumpsuits they wore to the “King Richard” premiere. Olympia even owns a pint-sized recreation of one of her famous mom’s tennis outfits.
And while Williams might not be playing tennis moving forward, she told Vogue she’s trying for another baby — so it looks like fans might be able to look forward to another tot joining in for matchy moments one day.
