It is 2008 and some months have passed ever since Kim Clijsters gave birth to her first child. She does all she can to hit the ball at her usual magic speed, but her 180 beats per minute heart rate won’t let her have any of that. This is a rate the new mum cannot tolerate. All she needs is a gentle two-shot rally and that’s it!
The once natural flying movements are now impossible to make. The grand slam champion has no option but to go back to the drawing, back to the bottom – the very beginning.
Once a world No. 1, life is slowly turning out to be frustrating at times and despite such a great talent, fast-track to sporting success is not anything close by.
She would catch up after a whole 7 months of struggle.
Back to 2017 and we meet Serena Williams, another iconic name in the tennis world. She is expecting her first child and that in essence pose fresh challenges as well as a new perspective to life.
According to Williams, she will debut in 2018 but questions linger everywhere. Can a 35 year old who has established profound rooting return to a sport where her name rings in the ears of every fan?
How will the already champion remain motivated?
She will make a return while still not too old or too weak to overpower her opponents with powerful shots. Her venom-like ability will still burn in her but doubts can be cast on her iron will.
For the past 20 years, Williams has worked to prove she is the finest tennis player of our time. She has won literally any award you can dare think of, with 23 grand slams. So what can really keep her motivated?
Just like Clijsters, Williams is ready to make a comeback upon delivery. Pregnancy isn’t her retiring ticket. No she wants more… more… and much more.
“What I found the most important with both players was that they still had a lot they wanted to, and believe they could, achieve,” says Fissette — Clijsters’ coach when the Belgian won three grand slams during her comeback from pregnancy.”
Fissette adds that with the right motivation and ambition, the two have constantly trained and ensured they are fit throughout the pregnancy period.
“Science is at a point where you can be very fit at 37 or 38. If she has that goal to come back next year she will be fine but, personally, I don’t see her coming back. She’s achieved everything. She’s the best tennis player of all time, who will be 36 in September and is about to have a baby.”
