MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The upcoming Australian Open will see the return of Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber, both of whom have previously had significant victories at this prestigious tournament. However, they confess that their focus will not be solely on playing tennis, as they will be coping with personal responsibilities as well.
Wozniacki, who achieved her only Grand Slam triumph at Rod Laver Arena in 2018, will be returning to Melbourne Park after a gap of six years, this time with her two children, Olivia and James. Juggling motherhood with a professional tennis career, the 33-year-old wild card shared the challenges of finding a balance between the two demanding roles.
Reflecting on her parental duties, Wozniacki stated, “It’s hard. It feels like you have two full-time jobs basically.” She acknowledged the resilience required to navigate this dual role and emphasized, “Some days it’s survival, some days we’re thriving.”
Last year, Wozniacki only participated in seven matches after a four-year hiatus from the tour. Despite this, she believes she still has the capacity to compete at the highest level. Expressing confidence in her abilities, she affirmed, “My body feels pretty good … I’m just going to focus on my first-round opponent and kind of go from there.”
Similarly, Kerber, who clinched her first major title in Melbourne in 2016, will also be accompanied by her young daughter as she returns to the Grand Slam stage for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open. The 35-year-old German expressed enthusiasm about the return of mothers like Wozniacki and other players who have recently had children.
Kerber acknowledged the unique mindset of player-mothers, remarking, “I think for us, it is completely different mindset because, of course, we are not really the important person right now in our lives, there is someone else.”
Kerber, who faced an 18-month absence from the sport, experienced a reality check in her recent match, indicating that she needs to be patient in the coming months. She also recognized the tough draw she received for the upcoming tournament.
Both Wozniacki and Kerber are looking forward to competing at the Australian Open, embracing the challenges of balancing their personal and professional lives while pursuing success on the tennis court.
Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Peter Rutherford
