NEW YORK (USA): Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tsvetana Pironkova made history on Labor Day by becoming the first trio of mothers to reach the quarterfinals at the US Open.
There were nine mothers in the draw when the tournament got underway on Aug. 31.
“I’m so happy that there are so many moms in the event, obviously, because I’m one,” Williams, who booked her quarterfinal spot with a win over Maria Sakkari, said. “I just have a totally new respect for moms.”
Azarenka completed the history-making trio with a fourth-round win over Karolina Muchova, under the lights in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“I’m so proud of the ladies. It’s incredible,” she said in a TV interview with ESPN. “I’m just really happy to see that. I hope we all keep going as far as possible. It’s inspiring. I hope it’s inspiring for other women that they continue to go for their dreams and don’t only identify as mothers, but continue to do what they want to do.”
“That’s not the only thing that we are,” said Azarenka.”We are also women who have dreams and goals and passions.”
Williams and Azarenka, who squared off in the 2012 and 2013 US Open finals, might have expected to be around at this stage of the tournament. But Pironkova, who had not played a WTA event in over three years, certainly did not.
Only three moms have ever won a Slam in the Open era: Kim Clijsters, Evonne Goolagong and Margaret Court. Williams, 38; Azarenka, 31; and Pironkova, 32 each hope to be the fourth.
With Pironkova to play Williams in the quarterfinals, we can have at least one mother in the final four. (Source: USOpen)
