Tennis

Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 tennis player, has opened up about the challenges she faced with her changing postpartum figure and the pressure to "snap back" after giving birth to her first daughter.Osaka returned to the tennis tour this year after a break to welcome her daughter, Shai. While she kept expectations in check about her on-court performance, she faced different pressures off the courts.In a lengthy social media post, Osaka shared that she felt "ashamed" of her body at times, especially when wearing form-fitting tennis clothes. She admitted to fighting the "overwhelming urge to 'snap back'" and compared herself to other moms who seemed to lose weight quickly after giving birth."Seeing other moms seemingly shrink immediately after having their baby was an expectation I began to put on myself," Osaka wrote. "That self-comparison always hurt because I felt as an athlete I should be losing weight quicker than most."Osaka shared a series of photos showing the evolution of her postpartum figure, expressing gratitude for her body's journey. She emphasized that all bodies are different and that she appreciates hers for how it is."My body has done so much for me and adapted so well to the tasks that I'm asking from it, I'm extremely grateful and thankful," Osaka said.Osaka's post resonated with fellow moms and athletes, who praised her honesty and vulnerability. WTA world No. 68 Taylor Townsend commented, "Our bodies are amazing! YOU ARE AMAZING!" while Allyson Felix, the most decorated American track and field athlete, said, "I definitely can relate to your journey."Despite the challenges, Osaka finished the year with a 22-17 record, reaching two quarterfinals. She showed flashes of her best form and even held match point against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.Currently ranked No. 59, Osaka is aiming for a strong start to the 2025 season after a back injury and ruptured abdominal forced her to withdraw from her remaining WTA events.

Sabine Lisicki, the former Wimbledon finalist, has welcomed her first child, a daughter named Bella. The 34-year-old German announced the birth on Instagram, joining a growing number of WTA players who have become mothers in recent years.Lisicki's announcement follows the births of daughters to Belinda Bencic, Petra Kvitova, and Alison Riske-Amritraj in 2024. Bencic welcomed her daughter Bella in April, while Kvitova and Riske-Amritraj gave birth to sons Petr and Calen in July.Lisicki, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 12 in 2012, has faced numerous injuries throughout her career, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2020. Despite these setbacks, she has shown resilience and determination, winning her first title in nine years at the ITF W60 event in Calgary in 2023.In March, Lisicki announced her pregnancy and promised "one more comeback." Her last WTA-level match win came in 2022, but she remains hopeful of returning to the court.Lisicki's announcement has been met with well wishes from her current and former WTA peers, including Timea Babos, Ashlyn Krueger, Magdalena Frech, Eva Lys, and Shelby Rogers.The birth of her daughter marks a new chapter in Lisicki's life, and she will undoubtedly draw inspiration from her role as a mother as she continues her tennis career.

Caroline Wozniacki, the former world No. 1, has been making a statement on and off the court at the US Open with her personalized Adidas Z.N.E. zip-up hoodie. The hoodie pays tribute to her illustrious career and her journey as a mother.On the right chest, the hoodie features a "#1" to signify her highest ranking, a silhouette of a trophy to commemorate her 2018 Australian Open victory, and the number 30 to represent her singles titles. On her right sleeve, the names of her children, Olivia and James, are emblazoned, a testament to her dual role as a mother and an athlete.Wozniacki, who retired in 2020, returned to action last summer after giving birth to her two children. She has admitted to experiencing "mom guilt" as she balances motherhood with her tennis career."My kids are there every single day, and I really appreciate it. It's the best job in the world, and I love it," Wozniacki said. "But also, I try to make sure that I am still there as a 100% present mom, while I'm also trying to balance being the best tennis player that I possibly can be."Despite the challenges, Wozniacki has reached the fourth round at the US Open for the second consecutive year. She bowed out to No. 22 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the fourth round, but her performance has been a testament to her determination and resilience.Wozniacki's personalized hoodie is not just a fashion statement; it is a symbol of her journey as a woman, a mother, and an athlete. It is a reminder that it is possible to pursue both personal and professional goals with passion and dedication.

Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, is embracing motherhood while navigating the challenges of the European clay circuit. Her 10-month-old daughter, Shai, has taken her first steps, bringing immense joy to Osaka.Despite the distance from her child, Osaka remains connected through daily calls. She acknowledges the difficulty of being away from Shai, but finds solace in her daughter's well-being.Osaka's clay-court journey began in Rouen, France, and has seen her make significant progress on the slow, red surface. She has never won a match on clay against a top-20 player until her recent victories at the Italian Open."I have made a significant amount of progress, and I feel like people can kind of see that throughout the tournaments that I have played," Osaka said. "I feel like I have dedicated a lot of time to learning about clay."Osaka's major titles came on hard courts, and she has yet to advance past the third round at the French Open or Wimbledon. However, she is more at ease on clay now."Honestly, at this point, I feel pretty comfortable on clay, to the point where I don't know if I'll be a little confused my first day back on hard," she joked.Osaka's opening match at Roland Garros is against Lucia Bronzetti, with the potential for a second-round clash against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek."Clay is fun. You get to slide around. You get to see how strong you are, in and out of corners," Osaka said. "For me, there is a lot of really valuable lessons that I'm learning from clay-court tennis."

Angelique Kerber's remarkable comeback reached a new milestone at the BNP Paribas Open, where she secured her first WTA 1000 victory since returning from maternity leave. The former world No. 1 defeated Petra Martic 6-3, 6-4, showcasing her unwavering determination and resilience.Kerber's journey back to the court has been nothing short of inspiring. After announcing her pregnancy in 2022, she welcomed her daughter Liana in February 2023. True to her promise, she returned to action at the start of 2024, eager to prove that motherhood had not diminished her competitive spirit.Despite a slow start to the season, Kerber looked rejuvenated in Indian Wells. She dispatched Martic in 90 minutes, demonstrating her trademark consistency and unwavering focus. The Croatian, ranked No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko, awaits Kerber in the second round.Kerber and Martic's rivalry dates back to 2008, when a young Kerber faced a lower-ranked Martic in Slovenia. Both players have since established themselves among the world's elite, with Kerber claiming three Grand Slam titles and reaching the pinnacle of the rankings.The match began with Martic struggling to find her rhythm against Kerber's relentless pressure. The German broke serve early, but Martic fought back to level the score. Undeterred, Kerber regained the initiative and served out the opening set.The second set followed a similar pattern, with Kerber breaking serve early and maintaining her advantage. Martic showed glimpses of her fighting spirit, saving three break points, but Kerber remained unyielding. Serving for the match, Kerber converted her second match point to seal the victory.Kerber's triumph is a testament to her unwavering determination and the power of motherhood. It serves as an inspiration to all athletes who aspire to balance their personal and professional lives. As she prepares to face Ostapenko, Kerber will be confident in her ability to continue her remarkable comeback and challenge for more titles.