Tennis player gives honest summary of motherhood and it's resonating with many: 'Tough and boring'

New mothers often face the question of whether they enjoy motherhood and they are all expected to respond with a “Yes.” However, tennis player Johanna Konta believes in being honest about the whole experience and sharing her struggles. She said, “I think the act of motherhood is really tough, it’s really monotonous and boring compared to what I used to do, which is play on Centre Court and travel the world and live a very selfish existence,” reports The Guardian.

Konta announced her pregnancy in December 2021 and gave birth to her daughter Emmeline in September 2022. “A part of me will always miss it just because the kind of adrenaline and the life you live as a successful professional tennis player, you can’t replicate in any part of your life,” she said, reported Independent. She further shared, “I love my daughter. When I put her down for naps, I get excited for when she’s going to wake up. I’m to the moon in love with my daughter, but I think the act of motherhood is actually really tough.”

Konta is known to be one of the most successful tennis players in Britain. Moreover, she announced her retirement at 30 in 2021. Now, she is coming back to Wimbledon for the ladies’ invitation double-side with Sania Mirza and this time with her 10-month-old daughter. While talking about her first day on the court, she said it was “rusty and painful.”

“The first day, I was so sore everywhere, but the last few days, it’s been fine. Don’t ask me to move a lot, though. That’s not what it used to be. I’m very committed to retirement,” she added.

She sees motherhood as a “very selfless existence,” which, according to her, is a tough transition. “It is not fun – but I would choose it every single day over playing on Centre Court,” said Konta. The tennis player feels that tennis has a blueprint compared with other sports and many players like Clijsters, Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tatjana Maria have shown it by example.

“It does take a certain setup and it does take a certain infrastructure to be able to do it.” There was also the cost of restarting one’s career, caring for a child on the road and having the right family support,” Konta said.

She won three grand slam semi-finals and three more quarter-finals while also being fourth in the world rankings in 2017. However, she said that she really loved what her life was, but she is learning to love her life more now.

That’s not true for Caroline Wozniacki, who came back to playing tennis after taking a break three years ago. Wozniacki said, “I think as an athlete, you feel like you can still play at your best and still have some[thing] left in you. I think it’s a great opportunity, we only live once, so why not? I think now is the time, while the kids are young. I feel good.”