Sport

Hot Shots from the Australian Open: Serena Williams reveals how she met her fiance

  • 11 reading now

The engagement of Serena Williams to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian was big news over Christmas. But we seem to know so few details about how the pair met.

After Williams advanced to the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park on Monday, she was happy to admit it was a completely random event in a restaurant. 

"I hope it was a couple years ago," Serena said in response to questioning. "No, it was a couple years ago. So, no, it wasn't like six months ago."

Was it just like happenstance or was it at the same party?

"Literally by chance," she said "It was just - I was sitting down, and he sat next to me. It was just ..."

Q: Nobody introduced you? You were just at a restaurant?

Advertisement

"No. Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore, right?

"I live in a movie and in a fairy tale in my mind, so I guess eventually it was bound to happen."

Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams' fiance.

Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams' fiance. Photo: Getty Images

MENDING FENCES

It seems Dan Evans and countryman Kevin Pietersen have patched up their differences. Not that they actually came across each other face to face.

The man who took out No.7 seed Marin Cilic and local hope Bernard Tomic in back-to-back rounds had revealed he was snubbed by the cricketing great when he asked for a photo with the rising tennis star at Crown.

"He didn't want me to have my picture with him. That was it. I think he was worse for wear. That was his excuse when he replied," Evans said last week.

Fast-forward a few days and the landscape had changed for the Brit after he was beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.  When quizzed on his tournament highlight, Evans said: "I don't know actually. Probably KP inboxing me. Wondering what is going to happen to his image. That's probably the only reason he did it," Evans said, smiling.

"It's all cool. It's fine."

British star: Dan Evans

Dan Evans, who has now spoken with Kevin Pietersen.  Photo: Getty Images

Evans was thrust into the spotlight after he was dumped by Nike at Christmas and was forced to buy his own T-shirts. But after charging through a few rounds, potential sponsors and supporters were clambering to get on board.

"Yeah, The Times were kind enough to sponsor me. Obviously Virgin Active. Thanks to them. I actually had only three shirts with the embroidery on it. I didn't think it was going to be that hot today. They only gave me three at that point, yeah," Evans said.

After a busy summer in Australia, it's time to put his feet up.

"To be honest, I just want to go home now. Yeah, just sort of hide away for a bit. Be good. Sit in the house, chill out. See everyone back home."

DOING IT ROUGH

They can be an odd bunch; the international journalists who descend on Melbourne Park for two weeks of grand slam tennis.

That point is highlighted by a couple of recent examples at this year's tournament.

One European journo was moved on by security when he was found as a "rough sleeper" underneath the newly-built Tanderrum Bridge.

But perhaps the most surprising story came from inside the precinct, when a Chinese journalist brought his five-year-old child to work.

The child, Hot Shots is told, was dropped off at 9am at the playground at Melbourne Park and left to its own devices before dad went to work.

When he returned at 7pm – 10 hours later – to pick up his child, he was greeted by police who sternly reminded the gentleman that the playground was not a day-care centre.

The man is due to front Rockingham Magistrates Court over the assault.

SWISS MISS

Margaret Court Arena was in raptures on Sunday night when a fan screamed "Go Roger" during the clash between fellow Swiss gun Stan Wawrinka and Andreas Seppi.

Wawrinka - one of Federer's close friends - replied with "not here, he's on Rod Laver," which went down very well with the crowd.

Our own Daria Gavrilova liked it, too, tweeting "I was thinking the same haha!!"

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Stan Wawrinka of Switerland reacts in his fourth round match against Andreas Seppi of Italy on day seven of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Not Roger Federer. Photo: Getty Images