Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has described the longevity of Serena Williams on the tour as ‘pretty amazing’ during an interview with The New York Times.
Speaking about the 23-time grand slam champion, who he married last year, Ohanian admits that she has given him a new perspective on his own work. The two have been together since 2015. Last September they welcomed the arrival of their first child, a baby girl named Alexis.
“I thought I was the hardest-working person on the planet. I thought we were the hardest-working industry. That’s what we tell ourselves. It’s all malarkey.” Said Ohanian.
“I’ve had this front-row seat over the last three years to greatness. It’s a humbling experience seeing really what high-pressure situations actually look like professionally, seeing just what it takes to actually be that great. It is a work ethic on another level.”
Williams is currently in the process of returning to the tour from Maternity. During March she reached the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells before losing her first match to Naomi Osaka at the Miami Open. So far in her career, she has won 72 WTA titles and has featured in the main draw of 67 grand slam tournaments since 1998.
“I used to change the channel when tennis was on.” Williams’ husband admits. “Then I watched my first match when I met her, and quickly got an appreciation for the sport. It’s not just the physical requirements but the mental requirements. I could not imagine doing my job with millions of people watching.”
Ohanian has also achieved a lot during his career, but in the world of business. Besides Reddit, he also co-founded venture capital fund Initialized Capital. Who recently invested $2.1 million in a startup cryptocurrency trading platform called DDEX. He has also previously been listed in Forbes’ ‘30 under 30’ for his work in the technology industry.
Despite his credentials, Williams and the world of sport has taught him a lesson.
“In sport, there’s a winner and a loser, and you can’t delude yourself into thinking there’s some other way to compare or measure. You’re the best or you’re not. For her to be able to perform so consistently for so long is pretty amazing.” He said.
Williams, who is currently ranked 449th in the world, is yet to confirm what tournament she will play next.
