Serena Williams In Labor While Venus Continues US Open Quest

Friday, September 1 could be a day to remember for the Williams sisters.

Serena Williams has gone into labor at a Florida hospital, CBS12 reported Friday afternoon, hours before sister Venus was scheduled to face Maria Sakkari of Greece in the third-round of the U.S. Open at 3 p.m. ET.

Serena, 35, is expecting her first child with fiancé Alexis Ohanian. She has said she is waiting until delivery to learn the gender of her child, but Venus hinted in May that the couple’s child might be a girl.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played since winning the Australian Open in January, revealing in April she was 20 weeks pregnant and would miss the remainder of the 2017 season.

After a yearlong hiatus, Serena plans to return to competition at the Australian Open next year, coach Patrick Mouratoglou said Thursday.

Venus, 37, has risen to the world No. 9 ranking this year after overcoming injuries, reaching two Grand Slam finals — the Australian Open, where lost to her younger sister, and Wimbledon — for the first time since 2003.

UPDATE: The tennis pro welcomed a baby girl on Friday — in the middle of the U.S. Open — at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach with fiancé Alexis Ohanian.

“Tennis star Serena Williams gives birth to a baby girl weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Mom and baby doing well,” WPBF-25 news producer Chris Shepherd announced on Twitter.

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