US Open 2020: ‘Mother of all Grand Slams’ as Serena, Azarenka, Pironkova make history

The prestigious United States Open tennis tournament being held in New York is in full swing. On Monday, three contenders of the Women’s Single Tennis draw, Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Tsvetana Pironkova progressed into the quarterfinals. The social media handle for US Open Tennis tweeted, saying that for the first time in the history of a Grand Slam three mothers- William, Azarenka, and Pironkova had made it to the quarter-finals. The account added, “Dare we say this is the….mother of Grand Slams?”

While Williams is no stranger to winning Grand Slams, reports by USA Today had suggested that the 23-time Grand Slam winner had won 2017 Australian Open while she was in the early stages of her pregnancy.

The 38-year-old Serena Williams who was accorded the title of “Greatest Female player of the Open Era” by a BBC poll, is aiming for her 24th Grand slam title this US Open.

Victoria Azarenka, a former WTA rank number one who has won two Australian Open titles and an Olympic goal for her country Belarus, is also a mother. The 31-year-old mother of one will face 16th seeded Elise Mertens for a place in the semi-finals in the US Open. 

Tsvetana Pironkova, the unseeded 32-year-old who defeated former French Open winner Garbine Muguruza and 18th seeded Donna Vekic on her way to the US Open 2020 quarterfinals, is the mother of one. Pironkova who is the highest-rated Bulgarian tennis player will face Serena Williams for a place in the semi-finals of the US Open. Having defeated two seeded players in the tournament already, Pironkova will be aiming for an upset against  Williams.

Another women’s tennis player and 6 Grand Slam title winner, Kim Clijsters is a mother of three. She made her  come back to the court in this year’s US Open at the age of 38. The former world number one lost to 21st seed E Alexandrova in a three-set thriller.