US Open quarters set with three moms Serena Williams, Azarenka, and Pironkova

There are three moms left in the draw, with Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tsvetana Pironkova each coming back from losing a set to earn their quarterfinal spots at the U.S. Open.

I can’t remember the last time three moms made the quarters of a grand slam, but I’m pretty sure that the U.S. Open is seeing the phenomenon for the first time with new moms Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tsvetana Pironkova all going the distance in their fourth-round matches on Monday.

All three women have young children they are caring for while progressing through a grand slam tournament at the same time. It’s an exciting trend in women’s tennis. With the fitness and financial options afforded top women players, and the ability to last in the game longer, female tennis players have more flexibility with their lifestyle choices while pursuing their career goals in tennis. I, for one, will be rooting for these awesome mothers!

While the tennis world was still reeling from the shocking way Novak Djokovic went out on Sunday and Twitter feuds from his fans over the line judge incident, Serena Williams is now the only one with several grand slams left in the draw.

Roger Federer is out rehabilitating from knee surgery, Rafa Nadal didn’t want to travel to the U.S. due to coronavirus concerns and is focusing on getting ready for the French Open later this month, and Djokovic is, well, we all know why he went out. Serena is gunning for a record 24th grand slam and secured her quarterfinal spot with a tough back-and-forth match with Maria Sakkari.

Serena dictated play from the first set, 6-3, looking to avenge her loss the Greek player at the Western and Southern, but 15th seed Sakkari managed to retake the momentum, sailing through to an early break in the third. When it looked like another upset was coming, Serena dug deep and channeled the fighting skills that have propelled her to so many slam trophies in the past. She let out a scream after evening things up in the third, making her 53rd slam quarterfinal, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3.

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The U.S. Open is the first tournament back for Tsvetana Pironkova, three years after bowing out due to her pregnancy. Her run here at Flushing Meadows has really been the Cinderella story of the tournament, taking out top players such as Garbiñe Muguruza and Donna Vekić in the earlier rounds. Pironkova survived her fourth-round match against Alizé Cornet, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3. She will now face Serena on Wednesday.

Victoria Azarenka has had a tough few years since she gave birth to son Leo and underwent a difficult custody battle to gain the ability to play international events while caring for her young child. But it seems as if she’s got everything back in order.

She won the last tournament, the Western and Southern Open, played at Flushing Meadows the week before the U.S. Open began. The Belarussian player hadn’t dropped a set until her fourth-round opponent managed to get the first one off her. But the two-time U.S. Open finalist displayed the renewed confidence she’s shown since arriving in New York. She defeated the higher ranked Karolína Muchová, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

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U.S. Open Quarterfinal action starts on Tuesday, with Naomi Osaka and American sensations Jennifer Brady and Shelby Rogers. Stay tuned here for all your U.S. Open action.