Today's Article

These days, Caroline Wozniacki is playing 1doubles off the court. After retiring three years ago and having two children, she's back in tennis's spotlight. 

"After being a mom and being a role model for my kids and for them to be able to see me play, I'm very excited about that."

The former world number one is one of ten women in this year's U.S. Open 2singles draw who are mothers, 3disproving the 4notion that women must choose between sport and starting a family. 

"A mother 5is torn in a lot of different directions. When she's competing at such a high level, it's got to be difficult." 

Fresh off a 6semi-final finish at Wimbledon, 28-year-old Elina Svitolina's game is 7seemingly stronger in her return from 8maternity leave. 

"I think it's good that they're doing it because it's also showing some of these younger players like in their early 20s. If I want to have kids, maybe I could have a child like a Svitolina and come back and actually have a successful career afterwards." 

Two-time 9Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, who returned to the game after the birth of her son Leo, has been 10vocal about the fact that she wants the sport to stay in the foreground when it comes to 11progressive and 12inclusive attitudes towards working moms in the sport. And a change made by the Women's Tennis Association back in 2019 now allows women to 13freeze their player rankings for up to three years, so they aren't 14penalized in tournament seating for taking pregnancy leave. 

While more than 20 active players on the 15WTA Tour are successfully balancing motherhood with being a pro athlete, the sport's most 16coveted prize, a Grand Slam singles title, remains 17elusive for women who have given birth.