Serena Williams has finally confirmed she is pregnant after much speculation.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion hinted at the pregnancy after posting a photograph on Snapchat accompanied by the caption “20 weeks”.

Within half an hour the picture was deleted, but not before thousands of people took to social media to congratulate Williams and fiance Alexis Ohanian.

A lack of official confirmation and the removal of the photograph led many to question whether Williams was actually pregnant.

Serena Williams is pregnant!! ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/u2RfhSzlcB — Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) April 19, 2017



After many hours of speculation, however, the 35-year-old finally confirmed through her spokesperson that she is in fact 20 weeks pregnant, per The Guardian.

She is due to give birth some time around September and will miss all three of the remaining Grand Slams in 2017.

Serena Williams won the Australian Open while two months pregnant

The length of the pregnancy means that Serena Williams was around eight weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open in January.

The younger Williams sister did not drop a set during the tournament where she defeated sister Venus in the final to win her 23rd Grand Slam title.

Williams would also have been around four weeks pregnant when she first announced her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, 33, in the final days of December last year.

The pregnancy provides more of an explanation as to she has not been in action since her triumph in Melbourne.

Serena Williams pulled out of both Indian Wells and Miami with a left knee injury. Despite her lack of activity she will return to world #1 next week as Angelique Kerber loses ranking points.

Serena Williams joins Victoria Azarenka in becoming a mum

The 35-year-old is not the first high-profile tennis player to have taken time out of the game due to pregnancy recently.

Today I had my hardest fight and my very best victory! Our son was born healthy and happy! So thankful and blessed! Thank you ??❤ pic.twitter.com/zsoFRivnvQ — victoria azarenka (@vika7) December 20, 2016



Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka had a baby boy, Leo, in December after announcing her pregnancy last July.

The Belorussian has recently announced that she is likely to return to action in July this year – exactly one year after she announced her pregnancy.

Main Photo: