Tennis star Serena Williams took to Instagram this week to share a tender letter she has to her soon-to-be born first child with fiance Alex Ohanian. It was a super sweet gesture from the 23-time Tennis Grand Slam champ.
The note, which accompanied a photo of herself in a bikini top and sarong, presumably from a beach babymoon she’s on with her beau, read:
My Dearest Baby,
You gave me the strength I didn’t know I had. You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace. 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 Mommy
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A day later, the mom-to-be left a message reacting to a mean, and arguably racist, remark by tennis legend Ilie Nastase who responded upon hearing the news that Williams and her white fiance are expecting, reacted during a news conference last Friday, by saying in his native Romanian language, “Let’s see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?”
In her note, also posted on Instagram, Williams wrote:
“It disappoints me to know we live in a society where people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and unborn child, and sexist comments against my peers,” Williams wrote in an Instagram post.
“I have said it once and I’ll say it again, this world has come so far but yet we have so much further to go….
“I am not afraid unlike you. You see, I am no coward. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? You may shoot me with your words … you may try to kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air, I rise.”
The last part is a quote form Maya Angelou’s famous poem, “Still I Rise.”
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Smart and classy come back Serena. We would expect nothing less.