Serena’s not the only mum-to-be
FOUR-and-a-half months pregnant with her first child, Mandy Minella rolls her eyes at the suggestion that her hormones may boost her performance.
‘It’s a big myth,’ she says, smiling. ‘I guess every woman who was pregnant would agree. I don’t feel stronger or more energised!’
Minella, 31, was beaten 6-1, 6-1 by Francesca Schiavone on Monday but will compete again in the doubles with Anastasija Sevastova.
The world No 82 from Luxembourg wore last year’s Nike Wimbledon outfit, which, with its billowing skirt, was the ‘perfect pregnancy dress’ to mask her neat bump.
Only the manner of her firstround exit marred a perfect story for Minella and husband Tim Sommer, who is also her coach.
‘I’m a little bit relieved that I did it,’ she says. ‘ I’m a bit disappointed with the loss but I’m happy I’m in the best moment of my life with my husband.’
She has been avoiding raw food and only eating salads she has prepared herself, and alcohol is off limits, but her diet is not dissimilar to that of many expectant mothers. Serena Williams is still hitting tennis balls as she prepares to give birth to her first child later this year and Minella’s workload in training has only decreased in the last few weeks.
She tries to avoid jumping and monitors her heart-rate more closely, but realises she is fortunate to have a job that gives her flexibility.
‘If I am tired I just take a nap,’ she says. ‘I’m lucky in my job to be my own boss.’
Minella feared negative reactions to her pregnancy, but has found the opposite as she prepares to become one of the WTA Tour mums.
Germany’s Tatjana Maria, 29, was three- and- a- half months pregnant with her daughter Charlotte when she played in the first round at Wimbledon in 2013. She has been giving Minella advice, but they have experienced very different pregnancies.
‘For nine months I threw up,’ says Maria. ‘It was neverending! I only put on 10 kilos (1st 8lb). I didn’t look at what I ate so much because I was always throwing up.’
Maria made her comeback just three-and-a-half months after Charlotte was born.
‘We could play a little bit when she was sleeping and when she was crying we went back in the house,’ says Maria, who is also married to her coach. ‘We never had to book a court or go somewhere.’
Maria’s daughter, now three, travels everywhere with her parents and was happily ensconced in the creche at the All England Club while her mother beat Anastasia Potapova yesterday.
Minella, who aims to return to Wimbledon next year, was pleased to learn there is a nursery on site. She says it’s important that mothers in the game are given support, but adds with a grin: ‘A lot of the male players have children too, you know.’