Mattek-Sands in no rush to join baby boom
With all the baby news surrounding the WTA Tour, Bethanie Mattek-Sands was asked about her biological clock after her second-round win in the French Open on Wednesday.
First, there’s Serena Williams, who is six months pregnant. Then there’s two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, set to return to the tour in three weeks at the Mallorca tournament with Leo, born in December, as part of her traveling team.
As a qualifier into the French Open main draw, Mattek-Sands ended the emotional return to the tour of 15th seed Petra Kvitova — who suffered wounds to her left (playing) hand in December — in an entertaining 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) win.
Then she was asked about motherhood.
“I’m taking it kind of one day at a time,” said Mattek-Sands, 32, laughing, as she looked to the back of the interview room where her husband, Justin, was sitting. “It will happen when it happens. I’m not trying (to have a baby) right now, if that was the question. It’s not in the deck of cards.”
While Mattek-Sands admires Azarenka, who she saw on the grounds the other day, and Williams, she isn’t planning to take a page from their game plan. In her mind, kids will come once she’s retired.
“I kind of feel like it would be a different part of my life, and I’d like to maybe close this chapter and start a new chapter,” she said. “I haven’t even imagined having a kid yet. It’s actually kind of one of my biggest fears, but that’s OK.”
For now, the day was all about playing a singles match that left Mattek-Sands, the world’s No. 1 doubles player, feeling the emotions of the occasion for Kvitova.
“I saw Petra before the tournament started,” Mattek-Sands said. “I gave her a big hug. I was really happy to see her back, especially after everything that had happened. You know, she’s an inspiration, actually.
“That’s what I told her end of the match, too. She not only came back from all of that, she came back playing well.”
Despite her appreciation for what Kvitova has been through, 117th-ranked Mattek-Sands was on court looking for a shot at reaching the third round. Her best career Grand Slam tournament singles results are fourthround showings at Wimbledon in 2008 and the 2013 French Open.
“We’re both competitors out on the court,” Mattek-Sands said. “I just stuck with my game, played aggressive, came to the net when I wanted to, mixed up a few drop shots here and there. To me, that’s kind of fun tennis, creative tennis, and that’s how I like playing.”
Mattek-Sands is one of the rare players who plays it all — singles, doubles and mixed doubles — though her fame is tied to the doubles arena. Among her four Grand Slam doubles titles won with Czech partner Lucie Safarova is the 2015 French Open. She also won the 2015 mixed doubles title here with Mike Bryan. And in last year’s Rio Olympics she captured the mixed doubles gold medal with Jack Sock.
“I joke with my coach (Adam Altschuler). I’m like, ‘Put me in coach,’ ” Mattek-Sands said of competing in all three disciplines. “That’s why we practice. That’s why we train is for these matches and to play in the stadiums and hear the fans.”
Mattek-Sands, who will play 23rd seed Samantha Stosur of Australia in the third round, was not the only American woman to post an upset against a seeded player Wednesday.
CiCi Bellis, who is ranked 48th, ousted 18th seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) to advance to her second appearance in the third round of a Grand Slam.
Bellis, 18, looked almost stunned after she took out Bertens, who was a surprise French Open semifinalist last year.
“It’s kind of hard for me to believe a little bit, but I’m so excited and I can’t wait for the next round,” said Bellis, who will play 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. “It’s definitely huge for me. It’s for sure one of the best tournaments of my life. So hopefully it keeps going.”