US Open 2025: Will Flushing Meadows see solely fourth ever mum win Grand Slam and first since 2011? | Tennis Information
When Serena Williams confronted Simona Halep within the 2019 Wimbledon ultimate, she was broadly anticipated to assert a record-equalling twenty fourth main, an eighth Venus Rosewater Dish and with it will have joined one other unique band of gamers.
Victory would have seen her be part of solely Margaret Courtroom, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters in successful a Grand Slam singles title after turning into a mom.
However Williams didn’t. Her 6-2 6-2 drubbing in 56 minutes shocked Centre Courtroom and the tennis world, who a lot fancied the then 37-year-old to win a primary main because the delivery of her daughter, Olympia, in September 2017.
A yr later, Victoria Azarenka defeated Williams en path to reaching the 2020 US Open ultimate and her first main showpiece because the delivery of her son, Leo, in December 2016.
Simona Halep denied Serena Williams of one other Wimbledon title and first Grand Slam since turning into a mum in 2019
But she bumped into an impressed Naomi Osaka, who received plaudits off the court docket in addition to on it for her activism within the combat towards racism and police brutality following the homicide of George Floyd.
Williams and Azarenka stay the closest a mum has come to claiming a singles main since Clijsters on the 2011 Australian Open.
Belinda Bencic, who had daughter, Bella, final April 2024, reached the semi-finals of this yr’s Wimbledon, whereas Elina Svitolina shocked Iga Swiatek to succeed in the final 4 of Wimbledon in 2023, simply 9 months after having daughter Skai, and progressed to this yr’s quarters of the Australian and French Open.
There are extra high-profile moms competing on the tour now than ever earlier than because of the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation’s progressive guidelines round being pregnant, maternity and fertility.
Gamers at the moment are selecting to begin a household throughout their profession, moderately than ready till retirement. It leads us to 1 query. Will this yr’s US Open see the primary mum since Clijsters to win a Grand Slam?
“I am so prepared for a brand new mum to carry a Grand Slam trophy,” Clijsters – who received three Grand Slams after turning into a mom in 2008 – instructed tennis podcast The Sit-Down earlier this yr.
“I am proud seeing so many ladies [with kids] within the draw and seeing the children stroll round and their relations within the gamers’ restaurant. That is what it is all about.”
Sky Sports activities’ pundit and Nice Britain Billie Jean King Cup group captain Anne Keothavong instructed Sky Sports activities Information: “I feel we will have mums who can actually problem the easiest. Belinda Bencic confirmed it at Wimbledon, Elina Svitolina remains to be very aggressive, we noticed Tatjana Maria win Queen’s. I don’t see her as a US Open contender however typically we see extra moms on tour than 10 years in the past, which is sweet.”
It’s a sentiment supported by Annabel Croft, who stated the US Open might present a primary mum winner in 14 years.
“I all the time assume in girls’s tennis, you’ll be able to by no means say by no means,” the Sky Sports activities Tennis pundit stated.
Kim Clijsters received three of her 4 Grand Slams after the delivery of her daughter, together with the 2009 US Open
“Take a look at what occurred with Kim Clijsters. Who would ever consider that Kim Clijsters would come again and win slams the way in which she did? In girls’s tennis, there’s no predicting something anymore, in order that’s to not say any individual couldn’t go on the market and win a slam however all of them consider they’ll do something towards anybody on any given day.”
Greater than something, each Keothavong and Croft say the dialog of motherhood {and professional} sport is a big dialog to have and spotlight.
“It’s essential that we focus on this [mums on tour] to normalise it,” Keothavong stated. “For ladies to assist different girls and present different girls. Not simply athletes however no matter profession you’re in or no matter work house you’re in, it’s potential to have a profession and do one thing for your self after having a baby.
“Having a baby doesn’t imply that your profession is completed and dusted however once more I’m going again to, it does require an unbelievable assist system.”
Keothavong noticed first-hand the assist system in place for Bencic whereas watching her third-round conflict towards Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto on Courtroom 18 at Wimbledon.
“I used to be up on the balcony watching Belinda’s match and her companion was pacing up and down with the buggy along with her daughter who I feel was quick asleep.
Belinda Bencic, seen right here along with her daughter throughout follow, reached the semi-finals of this yr’s Wimbledon
“She is ready the place she will be able to nonetheless journey with a full-time coach, her dad was there, her husband remains to be her health coach and in a position to be a palms on dad on the highway which is an unbelievable place to be in and as inspiring as it’s, it’s in all probability not the fact for most girls.”
When Naomi Osaka returned to the tour in January final yr after a 15-month absence following the delivery of her daughter Shai, she spoke about how she was “accomplished” as an individual.
“To know there is a tiny human who loves me it doesn’t matter what, and my days simply mild up due to her, that form of completes me as an individual as effectively,” she stated earlier this yr.
Osaka is progressively beginning to discover type within the run-up to the US Open, reaching her first WTA ultimate since 2022 in Montreal, the place she misplaced to rising star, 18-year-old Victoria Mboko. Flushing Meadows is a slam Osaka all is aware of effectively, having received it twice in 2018 and 2020.
“I’ve seen enormous adjustments in her [since returning to the tour after the birth of her daughter in July 2023],” Croft stated.
Naomi Osaka reached her first WTA ultimate since 2022 however misplaced in Montreal to Victoria Mboko
“I keep in mind interviewing Naomi when she was so shy, she couldn’t elevate her head up, couldn’t say greater than two phrases, however now she’s form of like a spokesperson, she has extra energy and confidence. Being a mum has given her enormous depth to her character and I’ve seen huge adjustments in her.”
That ‘greater image’ mentality for gamers returning after maternity can definitely generally work in gamers’ favour by permitting them to remain grounded and disconnect from the sport when wanted, as proven by Bencic’s run at Wimbledon.
“It provides gamers perspective on life and what’s really actually essential,” Keothavong added.
“It doesn’t imply you’re any much less formidable than what you had been earlier than, you simply have a unique perspective on it, I feel it’s completely different for various folks.
“Belinda spoke about being in the identical room as her daughter [during Wimbledon] and that when she wakened within the night time, she was up and possibly had some assist as effectively. However she appears like she was actually hands-on, and has been a hands-on mom on the highway.
“Elina Svitolina, definitely when she got here again inside six months of getting her first youngster, she left her daughter along with her dad and mom, so she might concentrate on her tennis. It’s completely different and I don’t assume what fits one particular person essentially fits one other.”
Croft added: “Elina Svitolina has been unbelievably constant since she’s returned. I’ve seen enormous adjustments in her and the way in which she is on the court docket. She was all the time a powerful character and really gritty competitor nevertheless it appears much more so since having her child. She appears a lot happier in herself.”
Elina Svitolina has reached the quarter-finals of two Grand Slams this yr, the French and Australian Open
When Maria received Queen’s Membership this summer season, watching each victory from her teaching nook was eldest daughter Charlotte, now 11, actively engaged in each shot, whereas youngest daughter, four-year-old Cecilia, sat contently at the back of a buggy amusing herself.
“Charlotte has principally grown up on the tennis tour,” Keothavong added. “She’s successfully being homeschooled on the highway which to some may appear actually dysfunctional and laborious to understand however for them, it’s simply the norm.
Tatjana Maria celebrates her Queen’s title this summer season along with her two daughters and her coach, who can also be her husband
“There’s no proper or incorrect, and Tatjana and her husband [who is also her coach Charles-Edouard Maria] don’t make any secret concerning the truth they need her to be a tennis participant.
“Finally it’s sensible that ladies have the selection and that’s a very powerful factor, you’ll be able to determine what’s best for you and your loved ones and do it within the confidence that you simply’re going to be supported and go to tournaments now about having kids round and facilitating every thing that can assist you.”
The US Open may come too quickly for one of many mums on tour to make an historic breakthrough however they’re definitely knocking on the door.
Watch the US Open reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app from August 24
