Aryna Sabalenka is hailing Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as “very inspirational” figures as they have helped the 25-year-old believe that she could also one day give birth and then make a very strong post-pregnancy comeback to tennis.
Famously, Williams, now 42, was eight weeks into her pregnancy when she won the 2017 Australian Open. When Williams returned to action in 2018, she made the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open that year, as well as reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2019. Although Williams went 0-4 in those four Grand Slam finals, it was still undoubtedly a great post-pregnancy comeback.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Azarenka, 34, welcomed her first son Leo in 2016. After giving birth, former world No. 1 Azarenka was able to regain her old form as most notably she ended as runner-up to Naomi Osaka in the 2020 US Open final.
“I definitely think Victoria, Serena, they really inspired other girls to have a baby and come back, play on the high level. Yeah, I definitely think they’re inspiring so many girls, so many female athletes,” Sabalenka said in Brisbane.
