Tennis moms are women who not only inspire as athletes but also as mothers! They embody courage, dedication, and sacrifice constantly inspiring and celebrating each other’s journeys. American tennis star Taylor Townsend recently exemplified this while speaking on ‘The Changeover’ podcast, sharing her thoughts on meeting Naomi Osaka for the first time since Osaka became a mother.

Townsend made a strong comeback in tennis in 2022 after giving birth to her son, Adyn, in March 2021, at the age of 24. She has been one of the best performers in the doubles event ever since. Naomi Osaka, on the other hand, after giving birth to her daughter Shai, in July 2023, showcased some incredible tennis performances but has struggled to maintain consistency. Recalling the moment of seeing Osaka in the locker room during the Indian Wells Masters, Townsend said, “That was the first time that I’ve seen her like in person since having her baby.”

In the same podcast, Taylor Townsend also wanted to congratulate all the other tennis moms, as she understands how tough it is to make a comeback after pregnancy. Reflecting more on that, she added, “All of the women who have had kids and came back could have easily been like, I’m good. Like, they’ve accomplished enough to where they didn’t need to, like, you didn’t have to come back. But you decided to so I really, I really, on purpose, like commend them Be like, salute position is hard.”

The 28-year-old American tennis star said, “You know, just even just the physical stuff, like not even taking into consideration like you have another human that you are responsible for.” Townsend herself has followed in Serena Williams’ footsteps by making a remarkable comeback after her pregnancy. As she explained in the same podcast, she stayed away from her son for three months in the process of balancing motherhood with her professional tennis career.

This whole journey of a tennis mom adds additional responsibilities, and one also has to be extremely patient. On that note, how does Naomi Osaka manage her dual duties, and what exactly motivates the 4-time Grand Slam champion to keep grinding?

Daughter Shai is Naomi Osaka’s “ultimate motivator”

Naomi Osaka revealed that becoming a mother has significantly changed her mindset. The Japanese tennis star believes she is now much more open-minded, much more patient, and also a bit stronger than she was before. She thinks Shai has definitely helped her with the way she views things now. Shai is the one who pushes to chase her dreams yet again!

Speaking more of the influence of her daughter in her life, she stated, “Parents, moms in particular, are historically told that babies will be a barrier to personal goals — that they will stop you from achieving your dreams. But I have discovered that Shai is my ultimate motivator; she makes me want to achieve greatness.”

Just like any other tennis mom, Naomi Osaka is also proud of herself for continuing to chase her dreams and playing the role of a mother altogether. After Osaka’s French Open exit in 2024, Townsend’s heartfelt note showed how she really understood the Japanese WTA star’s struggle to come back. Townsend wrote, “You are the truth! I know you are proud of you.. but girl… so am I!”

Appearing on the court after going through pregnancy is a trophy in itself for WTA players. Every tennis mom is dealing with it in their own way. What are your thoughts on these super moms of the tennis world? Let us know in the comments below.