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Husband's heartfelt tribute to Serena after Wimbledon exit

The husband of Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, has penned a wonderful tribute to his wife, after her appearance in the final of Wimbledon.

The American entrepreneur, the co-founder of Reddit, said he couldn’t be more proud of Williams, after her more than successful return to tennis, just 10 months following the birth of her baby girl Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

“Days after our baby girl was born, I kissed my wife goodbye before surgery and neither of us knew if she would be coming back,” Ohanian wrote on Instagram.

“We just wanted her to survive—10 months later, she’s in the #Wimbledon final.

“Congratulations, @angie.kerber.

“@serenawilliams will be holding a trophy again soon—she’s got the greatest one waiting at home for her. Our family knows she’ll win many more trophies, too.

“She’s just getting started. And I couldn’t be more proud.”

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Ohanian had some wonderful words for his wife. Pic: Getty
Ohanian had some wonderful words for his wife. Pic: Getty

Ohanian’s Instagram post was accompanied by a powerful image of Williams, with the phrase “just getting started”.

The image drew a torrent of positive messages and over 70,000 likes.

Williams says more grand slams to come

Beaten but unbowed, Serena Williams is vowing to continue her relentless pursuit of tennis’s most elusive feat despite falling tantalisingly short at Wimbledon.

Williams’ 6-3 6-3 finals loss to inspired German Angelique Kerber denied the American a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles crown.

Australian Margaret Court set the benchmark 43 years ago and, until now, the record has remained unchallenged.

Angelique Kerber celebrates her win against Serena Williams (left) on day twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images)
Angelique Kerber celebrates her win against Serena Williams (left) on day twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images)

Williams had been favoured to draw level on Saturday but, despite turning 37 in September and suffering only her third defeat in 10 finals at The All England Club, the former world No.1 maintains more majors are still to come.

The American is just 14 matches into her comeback after more than a year off on maternity leave and says while her priorities have changed, her hunger remains undiminished.

“It was such an amazing tournament for me. I was really happy to get this far,” Williams said after having her 20-match Wimbledon winning streak finally come to an end.

“It’s obviously disappointing but I can’t be disappointed; I have so much to look forward to. I’m only just getting started.

“I didn’t know a couple of months ago where I was, where I would be, how I would do, how I would be able to come back. It was such a long way to see light at the end of the road kind of.

“So I think these two weeks have really showed me that, ‘okay, I can compete’. Obviously I can compete for the long run in a grand slam. I can come out and be a contender to win grand slams.”

Williams was also bidding to become the first mother to win Wimbledon since Court’s fellow Australian great Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

Court and Belgian Kim Clijsters are the only other grand slam-winning mums in 50 years of professional tennis.

But even in defeat, Williams believes her run to the final was a win for all working mothers.

“I’d just like to tell all the mums, like, I had such a long struggle to come back, and it was really difficult. Honestly, I feel like if I can do it, they can do it,” she said.

“I’m just that person, that vessel, that’s saying, ‘You can be whatever you want to be’

“If you want to go back to work, and to me after becoming a mum, I feel like there’s no pressure to do that because having a child is a completely full-time job.

“But to those that do want to go back, you can do it, you can really do it.”