August 2015 was a weird time for the internet. If you were scrolling TMZ on a random Monday, you probably saw the grainy photos that launched a thousand think pieces. It was a dinner at Sotto, an upscale Italian joint in downtown Cincinnati. There, tucked into a back corner of the restaurant, was the greatest tennis player of all time and the biggest rapper on the planet. And yeah, the Drake and Serena Williams kiss was very, very real.
They weren't exactly hiding it.
Even though they had a private room, there wasn't a door, so fellow diners basically had front-row seats to the "6 God" and the 23-time Grand Slam champion getting cozy. This wasn't just a friendly "congrats on the win" peck. Eyewitnesses said they couldn't keep their hands off each other. It was the "hard launch" before people really used that term, even if they never officially put a label on it in a press release.
The Cincinnati Sotto Incident
The timing of that dinner was perfect. Serena had just won the Western & Southern Open earlier that day. Drake was in the stands, of course, cheering like he was her coach. He’d been trailing her all summer—from the grass courts of Wimbledon to the hard courts of Ohio.
People at the restaurant said they were joined by six other people, but the vibe was strictly "date night" for the two stars.
Most people don't realize that Cincinnati is a low-key tennis hub, but for one night in 2015, it was the center of the celebrity universe. The photos showed Drake leaning in, Serena smiling, and a level of chemistry that "just friends" usually don't have. It felt like a massive cultural crossover. You had the king of the charts and the queen of the court finally confirming what everyone had suspected since 2011.
Why the Drake and Serena Williams kiss still matters in 2026
You might think, "Why are we still talking about a decade-old dinner?" Honestly, it’s because of the fallout. The "Drake Curse" became a massive talking point just weeks after the Cincinnati kiss. When Serena headed to the U.S. Open that September, she was on the verge of a historic Calendar Grand Slam.
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Then she lost.
She fell to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals, a massive upset that shocked the sports world. Who was in the front row? Drake. The internet didn't hold back. Fans blamed him for being a distraction. They said his "OVO energy" was too much for the focus required to win a Slam. It sounds silly, but the narrative stuck.
But the real reason this matters now, in 2026, is because of how the relationship curdled. Look at the timeline:
- 2011: First rumors of them dating pop up.
- 2013: Drake raps about her in "Worst Behavior," saying he could beat her playing with her left hand.
- 2015: The infamous Cincinnati kiss and the U.S. Open loss.
- 2016: Drake releases "Too Good" with Rihanna. Years later, he confirms to his mom in a leaked clip that the song is actually about Serena.
- 2022: Drake calls Serena’s husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, a "groupie" on the track "Middle of the Ocean."
That "groupie" line changed everything. It turned a nostalgic "remember when they dated?" story into a multi-year beef.
The lyrics that revealed the truth
For a long time, Serena’s camp insisted they were just family. "Longtime friends," her rep told People back in the day. But Drake has never been one to keep a secret when there’s a melody involved.
In a clip released in 2024, Drake is talking to his mom, Sandi Graham. He straight-up says, "This is more about me and Serena," while talking about the song "Too Good." If you listen to those lyrics now, they’re pretty heartbreaking from his perspective. He talks about being "too good" to someone who takes his love for granted. It paints a picture of a guy who was way more invested in the relationship than she was.
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Serena, on the other hand, moved on fast. By December 2015, she was already linked to Alexis Ohanian. They were married by 2017.
What most people get wrong about the "Beef"
People think Serena hates Drake. That’s probably not true. In an interview with Time, she called the idea that she was mocking him "sad." She said they’ve known each other for years and there’s respect there.
But then you have the 2025 Super Bowl.
Watching Serena Williams dance on stage to Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us"—the ultimate Drake diss track—was a moment. It felt like a definitive "side" had been chosen. Whether she meant it as a jab or just liked the song, the optics were wild. You don't dance to a song calling your ex a "certified pedophile" unless there’s some lingering salt.
The petty aftermath and the Instagram "Like"
Drake hasn't exactly taken the high road either. In late 2025, he posted photos with rapper Sexyy Red on a tennis court. Underneath, a fan commented that Sexyy Red was a "Serena Williams upgrade."
Drake liked the comment.
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That’s the kind of petty that keeps a story alive for ten years. It’s a far cry from the guy who was "trailing her around Wimbledon like a puppy," as sports writers described him back in 2015.
Actionable Insights for Following the Lore
If you're trying to piece together the full history of the Drake and Serena Williams kiss and why it's still a thing, keep these specific points in mind:
- Check the "Too Good" lyrics: It's the most honest Drake has been about the breakup. It's on the Views album.
- Watch the ESPY 2024 footage: Serena’s monologue about Kendrick Lamar is where the public shift really started.
- Look for the "Middle of the Ocean" lyrics: This is where the tension with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is documented. Alexis actually responded on X (Twitter), saying he's happy to be the "best groupie" for his wife and daughter.
Basically, the Cincinnati kiss wasn't just a moment of romance; it was the start of a decade-long cycle of songs, shade, and tennis-court tension that still hasn't fully cooled down. Drake might still be the 6 God, but when it comes to Serena, he's just another ex with a lot of feelings and a microphone.
To stay updated on this or other celeb crossovers, you can track the "OVO" tag on social platforms, as Drake often drops references to past flames during his tour stops or surprise IG Live sessions.