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The 35-year-old American, who is engaged to
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has not competed since winning
the Australian Open in January but has posted several videos to
social media showing her hitting balls during her pregnancy.
"Congratulations @SerenaWilliams for your baby girl. I am so
happy for you and I feel your emotion," Mouratoglou wrote.
"Btw ... I wish you a speedy recovery... we have a lot of work
ahead of us," he added.
Williams and Ohanian have yet to officially confirm the birth,
but the reports she had quickly became the talk of the
tournament, which Williams has won six times.
"A baby girl? Well, I hope she doesn't play tennis," world
number three Garbine Muguruza said with a smile during a news
conference.
Fellow American Sloane Stephens said she expected to see a lot
of the newborn.
"I am very happy for her," she said. "I cannot wait to see the
little baby girl on tour because I am sure she will be around."
Williams confirmed her pregnancy in April hours after triggering
frenzied speculation when she accidentally posted a short-lived
selfie on social media with the caption: "20 weeks".
Williams, the world's highest-paid female athlete, was about two
months pregnant when she captured her 23rd grand slam singles
title at the Australian Open, one short of the all-time record
held by Australian Margaret Court.
She told Vogue magazine last month about her "outrageous plan"
to defend her title in Australia, where the year's first grand
slam will be played from Jan. 15-28.
Other women have left the tour to have children and returned at
a high level, although none has done so at Williams' age.
Kim Clijsters of Belgium retired and had a child before coming
back at age 26 and winning three grand slam titles.
Australians Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Court also won grand
slam titles after having children.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto and Rory Carroll in New
York, editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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