Azarenka wants more help for mums
The two-time grand slam winner believes there should be better facilities for parents after beating 15th seed Vesnina at Wimbledon
Victoria Azarenka has called on WTA chiefs to provide more support for players who return to the tour after having children.
Azarenka stepped up her bid to become the first mother to win Wimbledon in 37 years as the former world No 1 defeated Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3 in the second round on yesterday.
In her first grand slam since taking a year off to have her first child in December, the 27-yearold Belarusian hopes to become the first mother to lift the Wimbledon women’s singles trophy since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.
Azarenka has brought her son Leo with her to Wimbledon and has her partner and mother around to help.
But she believes it is time the women’s tour provided more on-site facilities for players with children, pointing out that the ATP has nurseries at their tournaments for dads who bring along their kids.
“Yeah, I hope that’s the case. I have been already talking about this point to some of the people in WTA,” Azarenka said after her victory over Vesnina.
“I’ll do anything to make that happen, because I think it’s really important.
“The guys do have that luxury of having the nurseries and stuff at every event and I think it’s time for women to have the same benefit.
“I think for women is much more important and harder.”
Only Goolagong, Margaret Court and Kim Clijsters have won a grand slam singles title after having a child.
Roger Federer, a seven-time Wimbledon winner, has two sets of twins who are often seen at his matches along with his wife Mirka.
But, asked if she was inspired by Federer’s success while being a father, Azarenka made it clear it is women who put in the hardest work.
“Roger definitely has not inspired me. No disrespect to him, and I think it’s amazing, you know, but it’s a little dif- ferent for him,” she said with a grin. Azarenka is one of a growing number of women trying to balance the demands of motherhood with a tennis career.
Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is currently away from the sport preparing to give birth for the first time in September, but the American star hinted she would return to action in the future.
Azarenka has spoken to Williams and Clijsters about the unique demands of being a mum on tour.
“I have talked to Serena and I have talked to Kim, actually. Kim was coming after my practice court and it was just fun to chat,” she said.
“We both agreed it’s the best thing that can happen to you in the world. It’s nice to see some of my colleagues that have children and we have much more in common than just tennis.”
Azarenka, twice a Wimbledon semi-finalist, will play British wild card Heather Watson for a place in the last 16 tomorrow.
Regardless of her performance at Wimbledon, Azarenka’s love of parenthood has given her a new perspective on her career.
“It changed me completely in so many ways. I started to look at so many things in a different way,” she said.
“It’s really fun that I’m able to go home and spend time with my son.
“I just really feel like I’m enjoying myself coming here every day. Enjoying the journey and being able to bring my son here.
“Hopefully in 20 years he’ll be playing here.”
Meanwhile, her opponent tomorrow, Watson, is within touching distance of achieving her long-term goal of reaching the second week of a grand slam – which could be bad news for coach Morgan Phillips.
Watson produced one of her best performances at Wimbledon with a 6-0, 6-4 win over 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova to make the third round for the third time.
She has never gone further either here or at any other slam – also making the last 32 at Wimbledon in 2012 and 2015 and at the Australian Open in 2013.
Should she beat Azarenkay, Phillips will have to honour an uncomfortable promise.
Watson said: “It’s been one of my goals forever. I made those big goals years ago. Making second week of a slam would be huge for me.
“And if I do, my coach said he’d shave his head. But I said, ‘No, your girlfriend will kill you. You can shave your legs.’”
Azarenka’s love of parenthood has given her a new perspective on her career