Serena Williams, who used the tennis courts of Compton as a springboard to a spectacular career, gave birth to her first child — a girl — on Friday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to WPBF-TV in Florida. The station reported Williams and the 6-pound 13-ounce baby were doing well after her induced labor.

Williams, 35, was pregnant when she defeated her older sister Venus in January to win the Australian Open, her 23rd Grand Slam title. Serena is engaged to the baby’s father, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Venus Williams declined to comment about the birth when asked Friday after her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari of Greece in third-round play at the U.S. Open. “I’m definitely available to answer questions about tennis. That’s all right now,” she said. However, Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, offered his congratulations via Twitter on Friday, as did the U.S. Open’s Twitter feed.

Serena Williams is a six-time winner of the U.S. Open, which will continue this week at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. She has said she intends to return to competition at next year’s Australian Open.


Congratulations to @serenawilliams for giving birth to a baby girl!



Sending you ❤️ from your friends & family at the #USOpen and @WTA! pic.twitter.com/zv8HW0dDTN — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2017

Congrats Serena!!! So much joy for you!!! https://t.co/u4edTrqIbB — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 1, 2017

helene.elliott@latimes.com


Follow Helene Elliott on Twitter @helenenothelen