What Really Happened Between Serena Williams and Drake? Here's the Truth!

The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar reignited a lot of previously forgotten drama. In "Not Like Us," Kendrick warned the Toronto rapper to never "speak on Serena [Williams]," alluding to Drake's history with the tennis legend.

Drake and Serena had a rumored romance, which reportedly began in 2015. Their time together was brief, but Drake mentioned his fling with the athlete in his songs on more than one occasion.

So, what really happened between Serena Williams and Drake? Here is a breakdown of the drama between the two superstars.

The first hints of a possible romance between Serena Williams and Drake began to surface in 2011 when the Canadian rapper was spotted cheering her on at various tennis tournaments. In August 2015, TMZ ignited the rumor mill by publishing photos of Serena and Drake getting cozy at a Cincinnati restaurant. The images showed the two sharing what appeared to be a romantic dinner, with Drake leaning in close to the tennis legend.

The sighting occurred after Serena won the Western and Southern Open, with Drake there to cheer her on.

Drake's support for Serena was not limited to in-person appearances. He often took to social media to praise her skills and express admiration for her dominance on the tennis court. Meanwhile, Serena was seen attending Drake's concerts, further adding to the rumors of a budding romance.

Despite the speculation, both Serena and Drake moved on to other relationships. Serena married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017, and the couple has since welcomed a daughter, Olympia. Drake, on the other hand, has continued dating other high-profile women.

In "Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar raps, "From Alondra down to Central / N***a better not speak on Serena." This warning, directed at Drake, references Drake's earlier remarks and rumored romantic involvement with the tennis legend. On "Middle Of The Ocean" from 2022’s Her Loss, Drake took a shot at Alexis Ohanian with the lines: “Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie / He claim we don’t got a problem but / No boo, it is like you coming for sushi.”

Alexis fired back on X, exclaiming that he was proud to be a “groupie” for his wife. “The reason I stay winning is because I'm relentless about being the absolute best at whatever I do — including being the best groupie for my wife [and] daughter,” he wrote.

Serena also took a jab at Drake, clowning the rapper after his feud with K-Dot. During her opening monologue as the host of the 2024 ESPY Awards, the tennis star poked fun at her ex. “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us — not a single one of us, not even me — should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar,” she said. Adding, “He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re gonna Forrest Gump him.”