Serena Williams has spent her whole life rewriting the rules of greatness, but now she’s passing the torch to a toddler barely tall enough to see over a tennis net. The 23-time Grand Slam champion gave followers a rare peek at her 2-year-old daughter, Adira, during a casual little mother–daughter hitting session.
In the photos Serena shared on Instagram Nov. 24, she gently volleys a ball toward the pint-sized apprentice, who grips her racket with a seriousness usually reserved for Wimbledon finals. One frame shows Adira studying her mom like she’s decoding ancient athletic wisdom.
Another captures Serena leaning down, quietly explaining the motion. Serena summed up the moment with a caption that hits the heart: “This is me sharing my passion for tennis with my youngest daughter.”
A Family Powered by Sports
Serena’s parenting playbook reads like a love letter to movement, discipline, and delight. She and husband Alexis Ohanian already know the joy of raising a strong-willed mini-creative: their 8-year-old Olympia. That kid has opinions about everything from bedtimes to fashion design, and Serena fully encourages it.
Adira is clearly getting the same treatment. Her tennis debut might have stolen headlines, but the toddler is already a multi-sport athlete in the making. Back in August, the family posted a clip of Adira swinging a golf club on their backyard putting green, channeling the tiniest Tiger Woods energy you’ve ever seen.
The Williams-Ohanian household seems to be a universe where creativity and sport form a messy, magical blend. Serena co-owns the Los Angeles Golf Club with Alexis, which means both girls have grown up watching their parents dream big and build bigger.
© The Grosby GroupWhen Fashion Meets Family Tradition
Serena’s world isn’t only about forehands and fairways. She’s also the powerhouse founder of Wyn Beauty and a creative force in fashion. Earlier this year, she teamed up with children’s brand Janie and Jack for a limited-edition collection, and naturally, the tiny design committee included Olympia and Adira.
© GC ImagesSerena told Parents Magazine that her eldest had strong views about colors and patterns. Thankfully, mother and daughter synced on most choices.
Raising Bold Girls With Big Energy
The loveliest thread running through Serena’s stories is her steady focus on raising daughters who know their worth. Awards and trophies are great, but she wants something deeper for them: confidence that doesn’t waver and identities that feel rooted and joyful.
© Getty Images“I want them to always be certain of who they are and never shy away from being themselves,” she said. She hopes that whether they’re swinging a racket, picking a print, or just figuring out who they want to be in the world, they feel strong, comfortable, and completely themselves.
Serena might be retired from competition, but the way she’s shaping the next generation feels equally epic.
