Ever looked at a photo and just knew there was more to the story? That's basically the vibe whenever anyone brings up the whole Serena Williams Drake ex situation. For years, we all watched Drake lurking in the stands at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open, looking like the most stressed-out boyfriend on the planet while Serena dominated the court.
They played it cool for a decade. "Just friends," they said. "Like family," she told reporters.
But honestly? The internet never bought it. And recently, Drake basically admitted we were right all along.
The Cincinnati Incident and Those 2011 Rumors
The timeline is kinda messy. It actually starts way back in 2011. People started noticing the 6 God showing up at Serena's matches, which was weird because, well, rappers aren't usually tennis fanatics.
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Then came the tweets. Drake literally tweeted at her about "putting it on her" during a match. It was thirsty. It was public. It was very 2011.
Fast forward to August 2015. This is the big one. Serena had just won the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. A few hours later, TMZ dropped photos that practically melted the servers. They were at a swanky Italian spot called Sotto, tucked away in a private booth, and let’s just say they weren’t just sharing pasta. They were caught in full-on make-out mode.
Six other people were at the table. Tequila shots were involved. It was loud, it was messy, and it was the closest thing to a "hard launch" we ever got from them.
Why Drake Calls Her an Ex in His Music
Drake is the king of the "subliminal" diss and the "not-so-subtle" tribute. If you listen to his 2016 track "Too Good" featuring Rihanna, the lyrics about being "too good to you" and someone taking love for granted felt pointed.
Well, in 2024, he finally stopped being mysterious. He dropped a bunch of archival footage on his 100 Gigs website. In one clip, he’s talking to his mom, Sandi Graham. He literally says, "I get heavy on a couple joints, but this is more about me and Serena."
He admitted he wrote the song for her so she’d hear it "loud and clear" but hopefully not hate him for it. Classic Drake move.
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The Lyrical Breadcrumbs
- Worst Behavior (2013): He bragged about beating her when she plays with her left hand.
- Back to Back (2015): Rumor has it Serena actually helped him write some of the bars for this Meek Mill diss.
- Nothings into Somethings (2017): This one dropped right after she got engaged to Alexis Ohanian. The lyrics "Did I just read that you just got engaged on me?" hit different when you realize the timing.
The Beef With Alexis Ohanian
You’d think after all these years, especially with Serena happily married with two kids, the drama would die down. Nope. Drake decided to stir the pot again in 2022 on the track "Middle of the Ocean."
He called Serena's husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, a "groupie."
"Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie / He claim we don't got a problem but / No, boo, it is like you coming for sushi."
It was a weird flex. Honestly, it felt a bit bitter. Alexis, being the tech-savvy king he is, didn’t get mad. He actually leaned into it. He tweeted that he’s happy to be the "best groupie" for his wife and daughter. That’s how you handle a rap titan, I guess.
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The Super Bowl 2025 "Not Like Us" Moment
If there was any doubt about where Serena stands now, the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show cleared it up. Kendrick Lamar performed "Not Like Us"—the ultimate Drake diss track—and who showed up on stage to dance?
Serena.
Seeing the greatest tennis player of all time Crip-walking to a song calling her "ex" a "colonizer" was the ultimate "it's over" signal. Some people thought it was petty. Others thought it was just her supporting a West Coast legend. But let’s be real: you don’t hop on that stage if you’re still on good terms with the guy the song is about.
Lessons From the Serena-Drake Saga
So, what do we actually learn from this decade-long carousel of rumors and rap bars?
First, celebrity "friendships" are almost always more complicated than they look on Instagram. Second, if a rapper is suddenly obsessed with a niche sport you play, they aren't there for the athleticism. They're there for you.
How to handle an "ex" who won't stop talking about you:
- Stay Unbothered: Serena rarely, if ever, mentions Drake by name in interviews. Silence is a power move.
- Upgrade Silently: She went from a rapper who writes songs about his feelings to a tech mogul who builds empires and cheers from the front row without making it about himself.
- The Final Word: If they keep taking shots in their lyrics, just dance to their rival’s music on the world’s biggest stage. It’s effective.
If you're looking to dive deeper into how these high-profile relationships impact public image, you should look into the specific crossover between athlete-rapper romances and how they've shifted from the 2010s "secrecy" to the 2020s "main character" era.