Mothers Duel Happens At US Open This Year

Serena Williams (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - There is something different from the US Open for the women's numbers this year. The duel between the mothers takes place at the Grand Slam tournament which is held in August or September each year.

Serena Williams won the battle of two mothers against Tsvetana Pironkova in the US Open quarterfinals, Thursday, September 10, WIB.

Williams unleashed 20 aces en route to a fierce 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over the Bulgarian who gave birth to her first child in 2018 and shocked her by advancing to the quarter-finals in her first tournament in three years.

"It just shows me how hard it is to be a mother," Williams said of Pironkova's performance as reported by Antara, Thursday.

"Whenever you have a baby, to be honest, you can do anything and you saw it with Tsvetana today. She played amazing."

Pironkova agrees with Williams that interpreting her dual roles as a player and as a mother is very difficult.

"This is clearly not easy," he said at the start of this tournament. "This is my first tournament and now I'm happy to be playing."

Williams, who gave birth to her daughter in 2017, could face another mother, Victoria Azarenka, in the semifinals on Thursday local time or Friday morning WIB tomorrow.

"I think I'm most influenced by mothers," said Williams. "How do you do it? You play a match and come home still having to change diapers. It's like a double life."

The 38-year-old American, who has two Grand Slam singles wins left to break a record 24 Slam singles titles, says motherhood gives her strength.

"I think when you are a mother, you overcome so many things just to be this and that," she said.

"And real age is all about how you feel mentally and how you're doing and how you physically compensate for it. If you think it's just a number, then that's all."