{"id":47151,"date":"2024-01-12T22:21:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T22:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/mothers-look-to-get-the-balance-right-in-melbourne-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-12T22:21:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T22:21:07","slug":"mothers-look-to-get-the-balance-right-in-melbourne-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/mothers-look-to-get-the-balance-right-in-melbourne-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Mothers look to get the balance right in Melbourne | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nMELBOURNE:
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Naomi Osaka said Friday she can “feel the nostalgia” at the Australian Open<\/a> as the two-time former champion prepares to make her return to Grand Slam tennis after becoming a mother.<\/p>\n

The former world number one stepped away from tennis in September 2022, citing mental health concerns.<\/p>\n

After giving birth to a baby girl, Shai, in July, Osaka rediscovered her love of the game and decided to return for the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been able to hit with a couple players and kind of, I guess, feel the nostalgia again,” she said. “But super-excited to be back. It’s been really fun so far.”<\/p>\n

The Japanese star, who has won four Grand Slams, said she relished being back at Melbourne Park, where she won the tournament in 2019 and 2021.<\/p>\n

“I love the comfort of it,” she said. “I guess just going into the locker room and having the same locker as before.<\/p>\n

“I think little things like that really make me happy. Just being able to hit on Rod Laver (Arena), I guess look up at the sky and kind of just realise, like, I’ve been able to win twice here. I would love to do it again.<\/p>\n

“I feel like this Slam is the one that changes the most, but there are some things that stay the same. Those are the things that I think give me the most nostalgia.”<\/p>\n

Osaka<\/a> said it had been hard to be apart from Shai, who has not travelled with her, as she returned to the court for the Australian swing.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old was beaten in the second round of last week’s Brisbane International by Karolina Pliskova.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki admits ultimately she will “never be cool” to her two young children even as they watch her pursue more Grand Slam glory at the Australian Open.<\/p>\n

The Dane made a shock return to tennis last year after retiring in 2020, reaching the fourth round at the US Open in her first major for three years.<\/p>\n

Now the former world number one is back at Melbourne Park — the scene of her only major win, in 2018 — with Oliva (two) and James (one) in tow.<\/p>\n

She has joined a group of tennis mums juggling on-court commitments with the duties of motherhood, including Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.<\/p>\n

Wozniacki, given a wild card to play in Melbourne, told a pre-tournament press conference on Friday that she travels “everywhere” with her children.<\/p>\n

“It’s a lot of fun to be able to share these memories with them, even though they’re still pretty small,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I think I felt busy before, before having kids,” she added. “I thought I don’t know how you can be more busy, but that definitely was proven wrong after having children.<\/p>\n

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve played for one hour, three hours, 10 hours, they’re still there and having full energy. They want you to be there 100 percent for them.”<\/p>\n

Similarly, former world number one and new mum Angelique Kerber says she still “has the fire” to compete at the top and always planned to return to tennis after giving birth.<\/p>\n

The three-time major champion ended an 18-month hiatus at the United Cup this month, helping Germany win the title in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Now preparing for her first Grand Slam since having a baby, she admitted missing the emotions and drama that come with being on court.<\/p>\n

“Why I’m coming back? I think this is the question a lot of people are asking me. It is because I love the sport, I love to play tennis,” the 35-year-old said Friday ahead of the Australian Open, which she won in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n