Serena Williams on the 'Scariest Thing' About Becoming a Mom & How Giving Birth Will Make Her a 'Real Woman'

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Serena Williams is opening up about impending motherhood, and how she is about to become “a real woman.”

The tennis star recently got candid with Australian magazine Stellar, admitting she has never spent much time around babies and that watching birthing videos has done the opposite of helping prepare her for going into labor.


WATCH: Serena Williams Celebrates 50s-Themed Baby Shower

“I have so much respect for so many women [for giving birth],” said the athlete, who is expecting her first child with her fiancé, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian. “I am about to be a real woman now, you know? It’s going to be something incredibly impressive to go through.”

“I don’t think watching birthing videos helps,” she also noted. “I actually think it makes it worse. Having a baby, nothing is guaranteed.”

The 35-year-old star also confessed that she worries about how becoming a parent might affect her tennis career.

“That’s the scariest thing,” Williams said, later adding that she still plans to compete in the Australian Open in January. “[But] I think [giving birth] will give me more strength, if that’s possible, and a lot more confidence. I feel like I will be ready for anything.”

During the interview, Williams recalled the moment in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 12., when she found out she was pregnant, just days before the 2017 Australian Open kicked off. Her heart “dropped into her stomach,” and she did six tests to confirm the surprising news.


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Due in early September, Williams shared how Ohanian is preparing for an upcoming “Daddy’s class,” while she herself could do with some lessons.

“I have never been around babies,” she admitted. “I need a Baby 101 class -- they don’t have one for the women! He’ll probably know more [than me] after his four-hour course.”

As for how she would feel about her child one day pursuing tennis, Williams said she would happily support her offspring in any chosen field.

“Whatever they want to do, they can do,” Williams said. “If they want to be a piano player, I’m here to support them. I’m not going to say, ‘You have to play tennis.’ I wouldn’t even put a tennis racket in their hand. That may be a little bit of pressure. What they want to do is up to them.”


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On Saturday, Williams celebrated her baby shower with a '50s-themed bash attended by sister Venus, actress Eva Longoria and singers Ciara and Kelly Rowland.

See more on the fun party below.

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