The tennis superstar dated the rapper and actor on and off for three years before she called time on their relationship in 2010.

While the 37-year-old athlete is now happily coupled up with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who she welcomed daughter Alexis with last September, she took to the arm of her former flame at a charity event in Chicago on Monday.

The pair graced the red carpet at the Civic Opera House to attend their collaborative Creative Minds Talk, entitled The Art of Storytelling: Serena Williams & Common, in which they led a conversation on public speaking.

Dressed in a casual, dusty pink jumper, black jeans and boots, the mum-of-one appeared happy and relaxed as she posed for photos alongside Common, real name Lonnie Lynn.

Taking to Twitter ahead of the event, the athlete revealed: ‘So excited to be joining @common on stage in Chicago for a Creative Minds Talk on Oct. 29 at the Lyric Opera House!

Serena and Common have remained on good terms since their split, with the rapper publicly congratulating the tennis champ on her sporting achievements in the past.

In 2015, the 46-year-old opened up about the break-up during an interview on The Meredith Vieira Show and admitted the pair had made a conscious effort to maintain close.

‘I have to say not every one of my ex-girlfriends are still friends but with some I am,’ Common explained.

‘[With Serena], it was kind of an mutual break-up but she initiated it. It’s okay though, we’ve got a great understanding and I care about her as a person … so we can keep that friendship.’

He added: ‘It’s not like every person you talk to every other day but you still have that respect and you still have that love and you want to see them do well.’

Meanwhile, Serena appears to be fully embracing her new life as a mum, taking to Twitter earlier this week to rave about her love for the 13-month-old.

‘I just put her to bed and I already miss her it’s literally been 2 mins,’ she shared with her followers.