The tennis tour is never easy. It demands not only physical strength but mental and emotional toughness. It’s a tough challenge to face when you’re away from home and apart from loved ones for much of the year, right? Serena Williams, who once dominated courts from the baseline with her powerful ball striking, agility, and a serve that averaged 106 mph—recording the fastest at 128.6 mph in 2013—knows exactly what it takes to achieve 23 Grand Slams and 73 titles.
This month, Serena celebrated the one-year anniversary of her beauty brand, WYN Beauty, on April 2. She hosted a Shopify pop-up event in Los Angeles on Friday, April 11. During the event, she spoke to People magazine about her journey and the hardships of being an entrepreneur. While revealing her dedication to her businesses (WYN Beauty, Serena Ventures), she also noted just how much it costs to do so.
“Yeah, it definitely costs a lot,” explains the tennis legend and WYN Beauty creator. “I’m here [in California] without my kids, and that’s a big cost for me because I spend a lot of time with my children, and they’re very attached to me, which a part of me loves. So, it’s always some cost.” The mother, who once proclaimed that she was “obsessed” with her daughters, Olympia and Adira, has to face the harsh reality that she needs to be apart from them occasionally.
But it wasn’t just post-retirement. “My whole life I’ve had to kind of weigh, like, ‘If I wanna win a championship, well what is that going to cost me?’” Williams says. “It’s going to cost me time with my family, it’s going to cost me friends, it’s going to cost me relationships. And they’re very expensive. You have to decide if it’s worth it for you.”
Serena Williams has often described motherhood as both her biggest achievement and greatest challenge. The tennis legend welcomed her first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in 2017 with husband Alexis Ohanian. While she has loved every moment of being a parent, balancing her career and family wasn’t easy. Speaking to Vogue in September 2022, Serena revealed the unfair choice she faced between being a professional athlete and a mother. “Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she said.
“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.” Despite the challenges, Serena embraced pregnancy wholeheartedly, adding, “I loved every second of being pregnant with Olympia… although things got super complicated on the other side.”
The tennis tour remains hectic and demanding even today. Tennis mom Naomi Osaka has often shared the emotional challenges of balancing her tennis career with motherhood. During the Australian Open in January 2025, she revealed how difficult it is to be away from her daughter, Shai, while competing. “It is really difficult for me… because I find now my home is more of a home because I have memories with my daughter,” Osaka said after her first-round victory. She described the sentimental value of keepsakes tied to her family life.
But even off the court, Serena admitted to facing “mom guilt” in an interview with Insider back in 2022. “Mom guilt is real. I always feel so guilty when I’m doing something on my own,” Williams noted. “I don’t know if I’m a good mom, and I don’t know if my method works, but I’m very hands-on with my daughter, and it was the same with our parents.” However, she makes the most of her time at home now.
Whether it’s creating fun activities with Adira teaching her the iconic ‘Serena Come On,’ or including Olympia in a fun cooking activity for making the traditional dish gumbo, Serena is a pretty hands-on mother. But there are moments the WTA legend still felt lonely.
Serena on her lonliest moments in her own home
While she might dazzle at star-studded events like the Oscars, rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s elite, her true happiness lies in the simple joy of being close to her girls. Yet, even the devoted mama has moments of loneliness. On March 4, Serena shared an emotional confession on X: “I miss them so much when they sleep. That’s when I get really lonely. #mygirls.” It’s a heartfelt glimpse into the softer side of the tennis legend.
But last month, Serena also found ways to combine family and business. Collaborating with Janie and Jack, she launched a children’s wear collection alongside Olympia and Adira. On March 12, she shared behind-the-scenes moments from the photoshoot on Instagram. Dressed in matching pink outfits, Serena and her girls looked radiant as they celebrated this special project together.
She captioned the post: “Anything I do with my girls brings me joy, but creating this collection with them and @janieandjack has been a dream come true.” When describing the collection, Serena said, “If I could describe this collection in one word, I think I would say ‘joy.’ It’s very joyful, and that’s what I want to create.”
It’s clear that Serena Williams more than just a tennis icon—she’s a super mama who never misses a chance to show her love for her daughters. Whether it’s through heartfelt confessions or creative collaborations, Serena proves that family comes first. Isn’t she just the ultimate role model?
The post ‘Going to Cost Me Time With My Family’- Serena Williams Gets Candid on the Cost of Becoming a Professional Athlete appeared first on EssentiallySports.
