Celebrity

9 Moms Competed in 2020 US Open Tennis, Mom Victoria Azarenka Wins Runner Up

Posted on September 15, 2020

This year’s US Open featured nine mothers, the most ever in tournament history.

Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tsvetana Pironkova made the final rounds and Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Tatjana Maria, Olga Govortsova, Kateryna Bondarenko and Patricia Maria Tig were formidable opponents in the early rounds.

Williams is featured in a lot of campaigns that celebrate woment’s professional tennis players who are mothers

And this year, there has been a lot of celebration of semi-finalist Azarenka who gave birth of her son, Leo, after winning back to back Australian Opens titles in 2012 and 2013.

She once thought pregnancy would end her career.

When asked about her come back durind the press conference after the 27 seed upset fellow Belarusianto, 5th seed Aryna Sabalenka , she said:

“Pretty incredible, huh?”
“Well, there is a lot that goes into it in terms of balancing, you know, a lot of things, and juggling two things.
“But identifying myself or other players just as mothers, I think that’s not the only thing that we are. I think we are part of, you know, being a mother, we are also tennis players. We are also women who have dreams and goals and passions.
“So that’s, I think, being a role as a mom. Everybody has their own priority, they have their own list of where they rank being a mother is, but we are not – it’s not just being a mother. Your life doesn’t stop.”

She had custody battles with her son’s dad and had to overcome several injuries and other personal issues to almost triumph once again.

And finally, she has joined Williams as a leader and advocate for fellow female competitors:

Last year, Azarenka and Williams, along with Venus Williams, Johanna Konta and several other stars, successfully campaigned for the introduction of improved ranking protection for expectant mothers playing on the circuit.

Prior to the 2019 season, female players had to return from giving birth or injury within three years to be able to utilize a special ranking for eight tour events in a year.

However, this year, players returning from childbirth or injury can use their previously held ranking to enter up to 12 tournaments during a three-year period.

They will also not be required to face a seeded player in the first round of a tournament. Azarenka said: “We have the power to change the rules and we have done.” The 29-year-old says that “is what [she] wants [her] legacy to be”.

Azarenka, Williams, Clisters and all the moms are proving that mothers can do it all.

Kim Clijsters won three of her 4 Grand Slams after the birth of her child.

Lindsay Davenport won 3 of her 55 Career titles after giving birth to her son.

And Olympic Gold medalist and seven times Grand slam winner, in 1914, Dorothea Lambert Chambers became the first mother to win a Grand Slam crown.

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Serena Williams Wins First WTA Tourney As a Mom, Ready For Final Test

Posted on January 14, 2020

Serena Williams has won her first professional tennis tournament as a mom this weekend when she triumphed at the World Tennis Association‘s Auckland Classic on Sunday.

It was 2017 when she last won a WTA title, the Australian Open against her sister and back then, she was weeks pregnant with her now 2-year old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr with her husband Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

This triumph marks her 73rd WTA championship title and also means she has been mounting tournaments for four decades, after capturing her first title in 1999 at the US Open against Martina Hingis.

Williams announced plans to give back to Australia during her winner’s speech.

“I’ve been playing in Australia for over 20 years and it’s been really hard for me to watch all the news and everything that has been happening in Australia with all the fire and… animals and people that have lost their homes,” she said. “I decided at the beginning of the tournament… I’d donate all my prize money for a great cause.”

With this win, she finally silences the naysayers who believe that pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood signal the end of a sportswomen’s career.

Although she is the most accomplished tennis champ since 1968 when the WTA only permitted professionals to compete, she still faces the final hurdle of earning her 25th Grand Slam title in the so called “Open Era” when amateurs were allowed to compete in Grand Slams. Margaret Court holds the record at 24 and ties with Serena at this point.

Williams can do it and in fact Court won three of her major titles after giving birth to her son in 1972.

Other moms have done it too.

Kim Clijsters won three of her 4 Grand Slams after the birth of her child.

Lindsay Davenport won 3 of her 55 Career titles after giving birth to her son.

And Olympic Gold medalist and seven times Grand slam winner, in 1914, Dorothea Lambert Chambers became the first mother to win a Grand Slam crown.

Mothers can do amazing things! Trust and believe!

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Celebrity

4 Women Who Came Back From Pregnancy to Take Tennis Grand Slam Titles

Posted on January 9, 2018

The naysayers who think pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood signal the end of a fantastic phenomenal sportswomen’s career are wrong. Very wrong.

In fact, a lot of women report the challenge of momhood drives them to try even harder and to best their game, as Tennis.com‘s Ed McGrogan correctly analyzed about Serena Williams‘ likelihood of making a comeback.

“Whether Serena would consider continuing to play as a “challenge,” or something she simply wants to do as a mother, it’s far easier for me to picture her playing again, rather than the alternative,” McGrogan writes.

She would not be the first as several women have done similar — gone from giving birth to go on to beat the field and rise back to the top and earn a Grand Slam title.

The legendary Margaret Court , the pre-Open era woman who has won the most majors, 24, won three majors after giving birth to her son in 1972.

Williams, who has the most since 1968 when professional players were allowed to compete with amateurs, the s0-called Open Era, is chasing Court’s record. With one more Grand Slam Title, she will tie it and with two more she will surpass it. If Williams follows Court’s lead, she will break the record, albeit now is a time when the field of competition is even tougher than ever before.

Kim Clijsters won three of her 4 Grand Slams after the birth of her child.

Lindsay Davenport won 3 of her 55 Career titles after giving birth to her son.

An Olympic Gold medalist and seven times Grand slam winner, in 1914, Dorothea Lambert Chambers became the first mother to win a Grand Slam crown.

There are at least two other major female players to make mommy comebacks and silence all the critics and naysayers!

Too soon, ma, too soon!

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BumpNews

Serena Williams Says She Won’t Defend her Australian Open Title This Year

Posted on January 5, 2018

Serena Williams famously won the 2017 Australian Open while she was 9 weeks pregnant but on Thursday, the 23-tim Grand Slam champ said she won’t be defending her Australian Open title this year.

It has only been 5 months since she gave birth to her first child, daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. The newly wed to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian turned Snaphcat to share the news, stating in part:

“My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time. With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.

“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again. I appreciate the support and understanding of my fans and everyone at the Australian Open.”

The tennis tournament begins on the 15th of this month.

The Australian Open tweeted best wishes shortly after her announcement, saying in part: “Good luck for the rest of 2018, Serena! We’ll miss you”

Unfortunately @serenawilliams has withdrawn from the #AusOpen.
“I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.”
Good luck for the rest of 2018, Serena! We’ll miss you ?
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 5, 2018

Williams had tried to push it by registering for a tournament last month but didn’t make it out the first round. She lost to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

“I don’t think I am going to rate my performance,” Williams said. “I have plenty of comebacks, from injuries, from surgeries, but I’ve never had a comeback after actually giving birth to a human being. So, in my eyes, I feel it was a wonderful, wonderful match for me.”

Williams struggled with her serve and Ostapenko won 6-2, 3-6 and then 10-5 in a super tiebreaker, but as US Open opined, she “still impressed to take a set off the No. 7-ranked Ostapenko after nearly a year away from tennis.”

She can do it and there is a track record for it!

The legendary Margaret Court won three majors after giving birth to her son in 1972. Kim Clijsters won three of her 4 Grand Slams after the birth of her child. Lindsay Davenport won 3 of her 55 Career titles after giving birth to her son. There are at least three other major female players to make mommy comebacks and silence all the critics and naysayers!

Too soon, ma, too soon!

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