Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki went down preventing within the fourth spherical of the US Open on the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Sunday. Playing in her first Grand Slam since 2020, not a lot was anticipated from Wozniacki. But the Dane put up an excellent show to point out the world she was prepared and severe for a second stint.
Wozniacki got here into the match after struggling early exits from a pair of tune-up occasions in Montreal and Cincinnati however excelled in New York, the place she took down eleventh seed Petra Kvitova en route the round-of-16 earlier than being eradicated by sixth-seed American Coco Gauff who’s on the high of her recreation after profitable in Washington and Cincinnati.
During her break from the sport, the 33-year-old gave start to 2 kids. Wozniacki says her plan is to determine within the full programme subsequent 12 months. To come out of retirement isn’t straightforward for a participant and Wozniacki admitted that she was testing the waters in New York earlier than taking the leap.
“I wanted to see with these three events that I came back and played this year. I wanted to see where I was tennis-wise, where I was physically,” stated Wozniacki after the Gauff match. “I’m exactly where I want to be. There are still a few things that I want to work on and can do better. But in general, I think it’s very positive.”
She has recognized a weak point in her serve which, she stated, let her down in New York, notably within the first and third units of the round-of-16 conflict. She has set the objective of bettering her serve earlier than taking the court docket in 2024. While she has to enhance bodily, she proved that she nonetheless had a champion mentality. “I think that I can beat anyone on any given day,” she stated on the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.
While Wozniacki’s ‘second career’ is simply budding, there are gamers earlier than her and along with her who’ve taken a break to be moms and returned with grace.
Familiar face
Now retired, Serena Williams is probably the most acquainted face within the up to date sports activities world on the subject of ‘working mothers.’ Serena has the (joint) second-most Grand Slams, sharing the spot with Novak Djokovic with 23 titles. After an excellent profession, the American took a break in 2017 to provide start to her daughter and got here again to the court docket in 2018 to succeed in 4 Major finals earlier than calling it quits in 2022. It was later revealed that she was pregnant when she gained the 2017 Australian Open!
Serena Williams, proper, and her sister, Venus, maintain their trophies after Serena gained the ladies’s singles closing on the Australian Open.
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AP
Serena has spoken up in opposition to the stereotypes forged on moms within the recreation. Speaking to Vogue journal in September final 12 months, she stated “it was unfair that she had to choose between being a professional tennis player and being a parent,” one thing that will not be anticipated of the likes of Tom Brady, for instance, who performed within the American National Football League at age 45 regardless of having three kids.
Years earlier than Serena, Australian ace Margaret Court, who nonetheless holds the file for many Slam titles (24), did the identical factor; she suspended her profession to have children and got here again to win three titles. Court positively had it more durable, given her peak was within the Seventies, an period the place stereotypes have been stronger than at this time.
Margaret Court lifts a duplicate Daphne Akhurst trophy on Rod Laver Arena.
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Tennis is among the sports activities that has tackled sexism probably the most. From the epic battle of the sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, tennis has come a great distance in ushering in gender equality. At the US Open, the moms have rattled the courts, stereotypes and opponents. Coming from a social construction that expects moms to remain at house with their children, they’ve entered the fray to point out that they’ll nonetheless forged a spell.
Victoria Azarenka went out in straight units within the second spherical in New York this 12 months, however continues to be battling for a doubles crown within the firm of Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. The duo has reached the spherical of 16. The former World No. 1, who has gained two Slams, has been via harder battles in her private life, together with a custody battle for her son whom she gave start to in 2016. The 34-year-old Belarusian nonetheless has her moments on court docket and isn’t able to let her private life get in the way in which of her profession.
Elina Svitolina, who rocketed to 3rd on this planet rankings and is at the moment twenty sixth, bowed out within the third spherical in New York on Sunday. She gave start to a daughter in 2022. The 28-year-old Ukrainian made headlines in 2022 when she refused to play in opposition to anybody from Russia or Belarus after the invasion of her nation. The struggle took a toll on her. Nevertheless, she continues to be out on court docket, making an attempt to get again to her finest.
Townsend again on the town
Taylor Townsend of the United States bowed out within the third spherical of girls’s singles on this version of her house Slam, however has reached the quarterfinals in each ladies’s doubles, the place she has teamed up with Canadian Leylah Fernandez, and in combined doubles the place she is taking part in with American Ben Shelton. She turned a mom in 2021 on the age of 24 and is climbing up her profession ladder.
Another ace within the pack is Angelique Kerber, a former World No. 1 with three Grand Slam titles who introduced a break from her profession in 2022 resulting from being pregnant. She gave start to a child lady in 2023 and has not returned to court docket. But followers around the globe are eagerly ready for the return of the southpaw.
While they could not have had stupendous success, these moms are proof that gender or private decisions don’t outline the profession of a sportsperson. They take the court docket with swinging racquets and hovering confidence, not able to collapse with out a battle. While they could be a step slower and fallen in need of going the space, they’re champions in their very own proper. Doing double obligation — at house and court docket — shouldn’t be straightforward and the truth that they’ve taken up the problem deserves a salute.