Comeback queen Victoria Azarenka has stormed into the quarter-finals of the Miami Open following her win over British tennis star Katie Boulter in straight sets. Making a postpartum comeback in 2017 after a year-long break, Azarenka has paved the way for many tennis moms who can be seen trickling back to the court since then.

While Azarenka and Serena Williams were rareties once, Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, and Elina Svitolina have changed the game. Currently a top 20 WTA Player Council member, and riding the wave of her Miami performance, Azarenka talks about her main priority of formulating maternity plans for tennis players.

‘Will create a tool for other programs to develop as well’ – Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka recently appeared on the Sky Sports Tennis podcast and talked about her groundbreaking efforts to create maternity plans for players. “Maternity plan is my, my number one priority. That hopefully will create a tool for other programs to develop as well,” the Belarusian star highlighted.

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Stressing the need to provide financial security to athletes she says, “Also the benefits of disability insurance and that all players, you know it’s a very physical sport you never know what can happen and you dedicate your whole life and things do happen where you can be stranded for a period of time without any financial income”

Sports in general and tennis particularly are marred by injuries. There is always a certain amount of period a tennis player stays out of the game because of major injuries and in the case of female players, maternity break is another reason to be ruled out of the game without any active income.

Azarenka further talks about players who face career-ending injuries, saying, “I think its really important to find a way how we can develop those programs, pension plans, etc.” Although she is not the only one voicing their support for the life-changing maternity plan.

Naomi Osaka agrees with Victoria Azarenka’s maternity leave thoughts

Chiming in with Azarenka, Naomi Osaka called on the WTA to implement maternity leave. “I think it would definitely be life-changing and I feel like having a kid shouldn’t feel like a punishment,” she told BBC. Osaka, who became a mother to daughter Shai with rapper Cordae last July, had the opportunity to rejoin the Grand Slam tour thanks to a rule modification by the WTA before the 2019 season.

Under the revised rule, new mothers are allowed to utilize their pre-birth rankings to participate in up to 12 tournaments within a three-year timeframe following the birth of their child.

Osaka further tells BBC, “For most female athletes, I think there’s a discussion that your career’s going to change dramatically or going to finish because you have a kid, so just appreciating them more and giving more options is something that is very necessary.”

Azarenka, among other currently active tennis moms, has broken the stereotypes surrounding tennis mothers. These players are constantly pushing to change the landscape of female tennis for betterment just like their predecessors did.

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