Anastasija Sevastova`s journey back to professional tennis after becoming a mother has been challenging.
The Latvian former World No. 11 welcomed her daughter Alexandra in December 2022 and returned to the tour in November of the following year, after a break of 22 months. Initially, she showed strong form, reaching the quarterfinals in her first four events: two WTA 125 tournaments in late 2023, followed by Cluj-Napoca and Austin in early 2024. However, her comeback faced a setback in Austin when she suffered an ACL injury, casting doubt on her return just as it was gaining momentum.
After another 14-month absence, Sevastova, now unranked, resumed her career at an ITF W75 event in Koper, Slovenia, last week, where she reached the second round. Her return to the main tour at the Mutua Madrid Open this week presented another tough challenge: a first-round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, an opponent who had dominated their previous encounters for over a decade. Pavlyuchenkova had won all eight meetings between 2010 and 2021, dropping only two sets against Sevastova in that period.
However, in a contest featuring former Madrid semifinalists (Sevastova in 2017, Pavlyuchenkova in 2021), it was the 35-year-old mother who narrowly won in two competitive sets. Sevastova`s signature drop shot, often hit unexpectedly from defensive positions, was highly effective, though Pavlyuchenkova also displayed impressive touch with the same stroke.
The match featured several prolonged games. Sevastova held serve in the opening game after four deuces and broke Pavlyuchenkova for a 2-0 lead in the second set after a lengthy game with seven deuces. Pavlyuchenkova won the longest battle, saving eight break points and navigating 12 deuces to tie the second set at 2-2. Despite this, Sevastova ultimately prevailed, securing her victory with a well-executed lob.
Sevastova`s next opponent will be the 23rd seed Jelena Ostapenko, who won the title in Stuttgart the previous week. This upcoming match marks a cross-generational encounter between two Latvian players. They have played twice before, most recently at Stuttgart in 2019, with Sevastova winning on both occasions.
Bencic Advances on Daughter Bella`s Birthday, Kvitova Exits Against Volynets
Day 2 in Madrid saw mixed outcomes for two other players returning after maternity leave. It was a memorable day for Belinda Bencic, coinciding with her daughter Bella`s first birthday. The Swiss player celebrated with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win over Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez in just an hour. Bencic, who returned last October, has already claimed a title this season in Abu Dhabi in February and is currently ranked No. 42. Her next match will be against the 20th seed Clara Tauson.
In contrast, three-time Madrid champion Petra Kvitova was unable to replicate her past success in the Spanish capital, falling to Katie Volynets with a score of 6-4, 6-0. The 35-year-old Czech started strongly, leading 4-1 in the first set, but then lost 11 consecutive games. Kvitova, who returned to the tour in February after maternity leave, now has a record of 0-4 since her comeback. Volynets will advance to face the 13th seed Diana Shnaider.
