The year 2020 US open Championships is turning out to be a celebration of mom athletes. As many as nine women who entered this year’s tennis tournament are mothers! On Labor Day 2020, there was a historic first!
Three of the nine moms made it to the final eight for the first time in the professional tennis era.
Serena Williams, Tsvetana Pironkova and Victoria Azarenka all won their fourth-round matches and were on course for the tournament title. As Labor Day marks the achievements of labor movements in
this country, there could not have been a more symbolic day in which the three moms could have achieved their feats.
Serena Williams (USA), a former world No.1, is looking for her 24th Grand Slam title. She gave birth to her daughter Olympia in September 2017, and despite complications during and after pregnancy, was back at work three months later. Since then, she has competed in four Major finals, twice at the US Open and Wimbledon. Olympia is now three years old and watches all her mom’s matches. “I just have a totally new respect for moms” NBC quoted her after one match.
Tvetana Pironkova is from Bulgaria and had her baby boy Alexander in April of 2018. It is three years since she played competitive tennis but thanks to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) that protects rankings so moms can have an opportunity to play again after maternity leave, she was able to play in the main draw.
Victoria Azarenka from Belarus is also a former No.1, multiple medalist at the 2012 London Olympics (where she lost to Williams in the singles semifinals) and a former grand slam champion. “Identifying
myself or other players just as mothers is not the only thing we are. We are also tennis players, and women who have dreams and goals and passions”. She is quoted as saying.
It will be interesting to watch the Williams /Pironkova match as they battle each other next. The winner will face Azarenka in the semifinals. J Brady and Naomi Osaka are in the other semifinals.
Can one be a mom and a professional tennis player too? Absolutely. These three are demonstrating it at the highest levels. Mothers are amazing!!
I do play tennis myself, for all of 3 minutes and 12 seconds of hard playing with my husband. These players are fighting it out for hours at a time. It takes grit, practice, intense mental fortitude and passion to get where these athletes are. And to be mothers of young children as well! We celebrate them.
Enjoy your journey!