“Are you loving motherhood?” used to be one of the crucial first questions the previous British No 1 tennis famous person Johanna Konta discovered herself being requested as a brand new mom. She would reply “yes”, feeling it to be the suitable reaction. But now, she’s taking a extra fair means.
“I think the act of motherhood is really tough, it’s really monotonous and boring compared to what I used to do, which is play on Center Court and travel the world and live a very selfish existence,” Konta mentioned bluntly.
Known as one in every of Britain’s maximum a success tennis avid gamers, Konta introduced her retirement on the age of 30 in 2021. Now she has returned to Wimbledon for the women’ invitation doubles along Sania Mirza, and this time along with her 10-month-old daughter.
“To then be thrown into a very selfless existence is a really hard transition, and it’s not fun – but I would choose it every single day over playing on Center Court,” she mentioned at Wimbledon on Tuesday morning.
Through the years, tennis has noticed quite a few skilled avid gamers effectively go back to high-profile careers after changing into moms. Margaret Court gave delivery to her first kid in 1972 and the next yr received the Australian Open, the French Open and the USA Open. Kim Clijsters received her 2nd US Open in 2010 after changing into a mom. And Serena Williams used to be two months pregnant when she received the Australian Open in 2017.
That doesn’t suggest it isn’t with out demanding situations. Training whilst pregnant can take a toll on elite athletes, and a participant’s go back after giving delivery relies on how easily it is going. Across different sports activities, motherhood is but to be as broadly embraced and the struggle for maternity provisions is ongoing: it used to be best final yr when skilled feminine footballers in England had been assured maternity and long-term illness quilt.
While each and every game is other, Konta feels tennis has a blueprint in comparison with different sports activities, with Clijsters, Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tatjana Maria having lead the way.
“It does take a certain setup and it does take a certain infrastructure to be able to do it,” she admits. There used to be additionally the price of restarting one’s occupation, taking good care of a kid at the street, and having the fitting circle of relatives make stronger.
“I really love what my life was, but I’m learning to love my life more now,” Konta mentioned, including that she used to be “very committed” to retirement.
The identical can’t be mentioned for Caroline Wozniacki, who returned to skilled tennis after strolling clear of her occupation 3 years in the past to begin a circle of relatives. After understanding via two pregnancies, the previous No. 1 and grand slam champion sought after to get again at the court docket.
“I think as an athlete you feel like you can still play at your best and still have some[thing] left in you. I think it’s a great opportunity, we only live once so why not?” said the 33-year-old. “I think now is the time, while the kids are young. I feel good.
When Clijsters learned Wozniacki’s return had similar timing to her own, it “just brought back a moment”, the Belgian player said. She retired in 2007 and returned two years later after the birth of her daughter, winning three grand slam titles before hanging up her racket again in 2012. In 2019 she made another comeback at the age of 36. She retired for the third time last year .
One of the biggest challenges as a new mother was striking the balance of investing time in herself as well as her kids, Clijsters recalled.
“I think that was a little bit of a challenge, just mentally to get that motherly instinct, you don’t push it aside but you have to kind of balance that so you have enough of both,” she mentioned.
As for Angie Kerber and Elina Svitolina’s return as new mothers? “Very thrilling,” she said. “You feel a connection to the mothers. It’s really exciting to see that all happening.”