Victoria Azarenka: "Being a mother doesn't win you matches"
With Serena Williams , Tsvetlana Pironkova and Victoria Azarenka , three mothers made it to the quarter-finals of the US Open. The latter now wants a changed image. For yourself - and your colleagues.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 30, 2020, 02:14 pm
It was a curious situation in the quarterfinals of the US Open. When Tsvetana Pironkova and Serena Williams stepped into Arthur Ashe Stadium to find a place in the semifinals of the first Grand Slam since the COVID-19-related interruption of the WTA tour, there was a very special greeting: "From Bulgaria, Alexanders Mother, Tsvetana Pironkova. And from Palm Beach Gardens, a six-time winner, Serena Williams, "it rang out in the orphaned complex.
Another mother should be at the forefront of the Grand Slam in New York City, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. The 31-year-old should only be in the final - and yet the image of the mother, who is involved in tennis, is dominant: "Just by being a mother, I don't win games To win games, "said Azarenka, who is proud of how the stereotypes have developed over the years, but still sees room for improvement.
The world rankings-13. tried to explain her thoughts on the sidelines of the US Open: "Being a parent is the most important thing in my life, but I'm a tennis player on the pitch, I'm a fighter on the pitch," said the Belarusian after her quarter-final victory over Elise Mertens state. "I want to make my dreams come true, my personal dreams."
Stop putting people in boxes
"I hope this is not a complete picture that they see. Being a parent is already a big part, but being able to do things for yourself is super important and I think when we're less people put in boxes, it gives them more freedom to explore more of their identity and to get to know more things that they can be, "said the former world number one.
Her existence as a mother is of course a very important part of her identity, but there are so many other facets that define her as a person and a player. "I'm Victoria. I'm a mother. I'm also a lot of things that I don't necessarily want to be recognized for, but that's what I am," explains the Belarusian. "I want people to see all these other things. And I hope that maybe this part is as inspiring to some people as a mom who plays tennis."