It was the summer of 2012, and Serena Williams was unstoppable: she won her fifth Wimbledon title—her 14th Grand Slam singles win—and took home two gold medals at the London Olympics. She also had her hands full with dogs: a Jack Russell terrier named Jackie at home, and Lauerlei, a tiny Maltese who often traveled with her. But then something magical happened while she was in New York for the US Open.
“I’m ashamed to say it,” Williams says over Zoom from a hair salon—for humans, not pets—”but it was at a pet store, somewhere off Lexington. I was just going to pick up some dog food, and they had this poor little puppy, and he was just so small. I picked him up, and I’m not the kind of person that’s so emotional, but I just started crying uncontrollably.”
But at first Williams walked away. “I left. I can’t have another dog,” she says. Plus: “I don’t even like Yorkshires. I never liked Yorkshires!”
That could have been the end of the story—but of course it wasn’t. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him,” Williams says, her voice becoming more emotional. “I had a nightmare that he was gone, and so I went back the next day. Now I had three dogs. And he was my first son.” While Williams had never before bought animals from a shop, “he clearly needed to be rescued. And,” she adds, “we won [the US Open] that year.”
As for the slightly fancy name: “I got Chip at a time when Rafa was winning everything. And Chip is so small. He’s a little fighter, and I felt like that was Rafa. So it’s Christopher ‘Chip’ Rafael Nadal.”
If you watched Williams play in her prime, you’ve probably already seen Chip, sitting proudly in Williams’s player’s box. “He was at every tournament. He even had a championship tie for whenever I was in the finals. He’d get dressed up and wear what I called his ‘champion-Chip’ tie.” But Chip is a good boy with wildly different tastes and interests: He goes everywhere with his mom, from escape rooms to religious services. (With some hesitation, I ask how Chip handled the escape room. “Well,” Williams responds dryly, “we got out, so he got out.”)
If Chip started small, though, he quickly learned to overcompensate. “Chip’s a very greedy boy,” Williams says. “He’s the human mop of our household. When I’m cooking in the kitchen, I never have to worry about cleaning up the floor after. I buy him all fresh food, which he loves—but honestly the guy eats apples.”
Below, Serena Williams answers the Dogue Questionnaire:
Vogue: What is your dog’s best quality?
Serena Williams: His loyalty. No matter what, he loves being around me. He always comes back to mama.
Who would voice your dog in a movie?
Timothée Chalamet.
Describe the voice you use to talk to your dog.
I talk to him in a regular voice. He’s almost like a human, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I always say he’s my son. We will straight up have conversations.
What is Chip’s weirdest nickname, and how did you come up with it?
Well, it’s not weird, but Mijo. My best friend is Mexican and started calling him Mijo, which means “young man” or “son” in Spanish, and it stuck.
Where is one place you wish you could take your dog?
I’ve never taken him to London. You can take dogs there now, but when I played, they usually didn’t allow dogs because of quarantine rules—Australia too. I can take him to England now, though. We should. Actually, on second thought, no—to Versailles.
Where’s the strangest place you’ve taken your dog?
Service. Is that strange—to take him to Christian meetings?
If you could tell your dog one thing, what would it be?
How much I love him, and how much he means to me and has meant to me, and how I appreciate him so much.
What is the most human thing your dog does?
I swear to God, he says “Mama.”—or “Mom.” If he really wants something, he’ll jump on you, and then he’ll say [in a tiny, strained voice], “Maaam.” I’m telling you, he’s saying “Mom.” And it’s so cute.
What’s the most dog-like thing your dog does?
He’s not even really a dog anymore. I don’t know—bark?
What’s your dog’s full name?
Christopher “Chip” Rafael Nadal.
Astrological sign?
I don’t do signs.
Favorite toy?
He loves a tennis ball—ironic—and he loves when we throw it. That’s also his workout routine. But it’s a small play ball, not a real tennis ball, because he’s really, really small.
Favorite meal?
He eats anything. The guy is greedy.
Worst habit?
Begging. He’s just too much with the begging. He’s crazy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Serena Williams adding her third dog Chip to her family complete with clear and concise answers
General Background Questions
Q Wait who is Christopher Chip Rafael Nadal
A Thats the full name Serena Williams gave to her third dog a French Bulldog Its a playful mashup of her husband Alexis Ohanians nickname and her good friend tennis legend Rafael Nadal
Q Why did she name her dog after Rafael Nadal
A Serena and Rafa are longtime friends and rivals on the tennis court She thought it was a fun personal touch to honor their friendship She also loves the name Chip for a dog so she combined the two
Q What kind of dog is Chip
A Chip is a French Bulldog This is a popular breed known for being small playful and having distinctive bat ears
Q Does Serena still have her other two dogs
A Yes She has two other dogs named Coco and Chip She introduced the new puppy Christopher Chip Rafael Nadal to her existing pack
The Dogs Family Dynamics
Q What are the names of Serenas other dogs
A Her other two dogs are named Coco and Chip The new puppy is also called Chip but his full name is Christopher Chip Rafael Nadal to tell them apart
Q How did her other dogs react to the new puppy
A Serena has shared videos showing that her older dogs were initially curious and a little cautious Like most dogs they needed a little time to adjust to the new energetic puppy in the house but they eventually got used to him
Q Does the new dog get along with her daughter Olympia
A Yes Serena has posted pictures of Olympia cuddling and playing with the new puppy She seems to be very gentle and loving with all the family pets
Q Are French Bulldogs good with kids