Pregnant Serena Williams poses naked on the cover of Vanity Fair

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Serena WilliamsImage source, Getty Images

Pregnant Serena Williams has posed naked on the cover of August's Vanity Fair magazine.

The tennis star found out she was expecting her first child with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian just before the Australian Open in January.

She told the magazine, external that she hadn't suspected anything until she was sick at the side of the court while practising.

But her friend suspected she might be pregnant and suggested taking a test.

Image source, Annie Leibovitz/Vanity Fair
Image caption,

The August edition of Vanity Fair, featuring Serena Williams, is on sale from 7 July

Serena's also posted this photo on her Instagram profile. , external

Serena ended up taking a test while doing a photo shoot for a lingerie company at an Australian hotel and said her "heart literally dropped" when she saw the result.

"Oh my God, this can't be - I've got to play a tournament," she said. "How am I going to play the Australian Open? I had planned on winning Wimbledon this year."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Alexis Ohanian had a hangover when he first met Serena Williams in 2015

Her friend Jessica was then sent back to the hotel chemist to buy five more test kits to convince Serena that she was pregnant. All of them were positive.

The article also reveals how Alexis and Serena started dating in 2015.

He proposed last December at the same table at the Cavalieri Hotel in Italy where they'd first talked to each other.

This is the table next to the pool in Italy., external

"I felt like a door had been opened to a person who made me want to be my best self," said Alexis.

"I find myself just wanting to be better by simply being around her because of the standard she holds."

The 35-year-old has been forced to defend herself this week after John McEnroe claimed she'd struggle if she played on the men's circuit.

Image source, Getty Images

The seven-time Grand Slam champion told NPR radio station in America: "If she played the men's circuit she'd be, like, 700 in the world.

"If she had to just play the men's circuit, it would be an entirely different story."

Serena Williams tweeted to ask John McEnroe to keep his thoughts to himself.

She said: "Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based., external

"I've never played anyone ranked "there" nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I'm trying to have a baby. Good day sir.", external

The man ranked 701 in the world - Dmitry Tursunov - also says he thinks he could beat Serena Williams.

She says she intends to return to the pro tennis circuit in January next year.

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