When Tsvetana Pironkova left the WTA tour in July 2017 to give birth to her son Alexander, she did not expect to return to tennis. Now, 38 months later, she is preparing to take on Serena Williams in a Grand Slam quarter-final.
“It means a lot to be here after three years of absence,” The Bulgarian said after her fourth-round win. “And this being my first tournament, having this great result, is something very special.”
She continued, “It’s really unbelievable that I took it this far, that I actually managed to win four matches, and especially the last one which lasted I think about three hours.”
It is an amazing story and Pironkova deserves all the praise she receives. It is difficult to perform well at the highest level of any sport under normal circumstances, so to do it after such a long time away is truly remarkable.
The WTA should also be given credit. Their December 2018 rule change that enables mothers to use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period has been a huge help to numerous players already. Three of them – Pironkova, Williams and Victoria Azarenka – are in the quarter-finals of the 2020 US Open.
Motherhood changes Pironkova perspective
One of the key reasons for the Bulgarian’s success at Flushing Meadows is her calm demeanour on court. She has been in pressure situations during her matches, particularly during her intense win over Alize Cornet in the last 16, and she has handled all of them with admirable composure.
Pironkova attributes her change in attitude to a new perspective on life provided by motherhood. “Everything changes (when you become a mother),” She said after her second-round win. “Your priorities have nothing to do with what they did before. Nothing is the same really.”
She continued, “I don’t know how to really explain it. It’s just great to be playing without that extra pressure that I had on my myself before. Before it was like almost life-and-death situation for me to win a match. Right now it’s not really like that. It’s before all just enjoyment to be on the court.”
While the mental side is obviously vital, it is impossible to win tennis matches if your shots are not at the standard they need to be. Happily for Pironkova, she had extra time to work on her game after the coronavirus pandemic prevented her from returning when she intended to in March.
“When I started playing again, obviously I had like eight months until now,” the Bulgarian said. “I worked on a lot of things. I really worked a lot on my serve. Obviously on my groundstrokes.
She continued, “I think all that work really paid off. I also have a conditioning coach, fitness coach, that I worked a lot with. So I guess that brings results.”
Serena Williams awaits
In the first round, Pironkova beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 6-3. Then she stunned World No.16 Garbine Muguruza 7-5 6-3. In the third round, she overcame Donna Vekic 6-4 6-1. And in the fourth round, the Bulgarian battled to a 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 victory over Cornet. These triumphs have brought an intriguing reward: a meeting with the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“It’s definitely a tough one,” Pironkova said. “I played against Serena a few times. I haven’t won to today. Playing such a champion, such a legend of the game, it’s a tremendous honour, obviously. I’m really looking forward to that match, because I know the feeling is going to be very special. I will try to do my best, and I can’t wait.”
If the Bulgarian manages to beat Williams, the status of her US Open run will be elevated to new heights. But with her new perspective on life and tennis, she will not be too upset if she loses the match. After all, she has already achieved so much.
