Australian Open 2024: Sania Mirza says not enough credit is given to returning mothers

For the first time in the last few years, an established top 4, with momentum on their side with nothing to prove, will kick off a women’s singles Grand Slam at the Australian Open on Sunday but the likelihood of a major upset in some feisty early rounds looms large. The reason: the unpredictable level of Major champions of the past making their comebacks.

Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff each have a Major under their belt and come into the first Slam of the year with confidence-boosting wins during the tune-up tournaments in Australia. But it is the progress of the returning mothers that remains the dominant storyline of the women’s section of the tournament.

Former champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber are chief among them. Caroline Wozniacki, who reached the fourth round at the US Open last year, three years on from initial retirement; and Elina Svitolina, still representing an embattled Ukraine after reaching the semi final at Wimbledon six months after childbirth; are stories that will continue to draw attention.

The Comeback Queen 👑@naomiosaka 💙 pic.twitter.com/P4U98fy3Sd

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 7, 2024

Returning from maternity to top-level professional sport is undoubtedly a daunting task, but Sania Mirza, who reached a Major semifinal and final after becoming a mother, explains how there are many more challenges than those that meet the eye.

“You are not just fighting the intense physical demons that come with childbirth, but also fighting your emotional demons – your mother’s guilt. There are sleepless nights, lots of changes in your life, and as a mother, it is natural not to prioritise yourself. To do that and then return to the everyday life of a tennis player is obviously not easy,” she told The Indian Express. “It is the most challenging thing that can be asked of an athlete.”

Kerber, 35, gave birth to her daughter last February. Osaka, 26, returns from the birth of her daughter as recently in July, before which there had already been injury trouble, an intensive period of controversy and scrutiny, and frayed mental health. Mirza believes that expectations must be tempered when the turnaround time is this short, and says it is an achievement just for these players to be ready to compete at the highest level.

ANGELIQUE. KERBER.@AngeliqueKerber | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/NaxU0muebm

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 6, 2024

“Not enough credit is given to these mothers. About 15 years ago, there would be maybe one or two women who could come back and play, and now it’s becoming a lot more normal… it’s truly great,” she says.

When it comes to the competitive level, Mirza believes that none of these players would return if they did not think they could win.

“I don’t think players, especially past champions, come back to be mediocre. Having said that, some people just enjoy being competitive. But my view is that a former top 10 player does not return if she does not think she can get there again because once you have tasted that kind of success, being around top 100 in the world will not motivate you.”

Order at the top

With the top 4 being settled at the top of the pecking order, opportunities may be few and far between for those returning, but they should still create some eye-catching big-name early encounters.

World No. 1 Swiatek opens her tournament against 2021 champion Sofia Kenin, and will face either 2021 finalist Danielle Collins or 2016 champion Kerber in the second round. A potential fourth round against Svitolina – who defeated her in the Wimbledon quarter final last year – is also looming.

The Pole shed the tag of being a one-surface wonder after her record-breaking 2022 season, and did enough to consolidate her position at the summit of the sport last year too. As has been the case for the past 18 months, she remains the one to beat in Melbourne. Swiatek kicked off 2024 with four consecutive wins, including one against Kerber, at the United Cup.

Defending champion and World No. 2 Sabalenka will look to find the same inspiration she found last year, when she won a maiden title in Melbourne and reached the US Open final. She has already started the year strongly, reaching the Brisbane final where she lost to World No. 3 Rybakina, remarkably 0-6, 3-6, in a rematch of last year’s epic final. Rybakina is already looking in good nick to put her streaky second half of 2023, when she was plagued by physical problems, behind her.

World No. 4 Gauff, who was able to drown out the hype swirling around her prodigal status to overcome a tough draw and win a first Major at the US Open last year, has shown little sign of slowing down. Like Rybakina, Gauff has already picked up her first title of the year by winning in Auckland last week. She could face Osaka in what would be a blockbuster fourth round.

Notable first rounds:

(1) Iga Swiatek vs Sofia Kenin

Danielle Collins vs Angelique Kerber

(3) Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova

Naomi Osaka vs (16) Caroline Garcia

(The Australian Open starts on Sunday, live on the Sony Sports Network)

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