Aryna Sabalenka appeared to suggest that retiring at 30 is an option for her as the Belarusian tennis star wants to become a mother, presumably in the next couple of years.
On Sunday, the world No. 1 kicked off her Australian Open title defense with a 6-3 6-2 win over Sloane Stephens.
But before she took to the court, the tournament posted a video they shot with the 27-year-old.
And Sabalenka – who turns 27 in May – made quite a comment by stating that she is “getting really close to retirement.”
“Now I’m not running that much. I need to save my hips, my back. I’m 26, 27 this year, oh my god, 27 this year,” the three-time Grand Slam winner said in the video.
“I played an exhibition with Mirra Andreeva — I’m nine years older than her. Nine. Being a professional athlete, I’m getting really close to my retirement. Can you believe that? People are retiring at like 30.”
Sabalenka: I don’t want to have my first kid at 35
Judging by the Belarusian’s words, there are two options for her – retire around 30 and focus on starting a family, or welcome a baby and then return to the WTA Tour.
But anyway, she doesn’t want to wait for too long for motherhood to happen.
“I don’t know, it’s a tough question. I hope I’ll have family. I love kids, I don’t want to have my first kid at 35,” Sabalenka said.
“I really want to have a kid and then come back. I want my kid to see how hard you should work in life to get things. So yeah, I don’t know. That’s a very deep conversation.”
These comments don’t really come as a surprise, considering that the world No. 1 also spoke in the past about her desire to be a mom one day.
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