The US Open is at its conclusion and it seems something has clicked with Maria Sharapova since the Grass season. During the Wimbledon Open, tennis fans witnessed heart-warming moments of the Russian tennis legend spending time with her toddler son, Theo. And everyone thought that the next step would be to introduce him to tennis. However, the former World No.1 recently unveiled mixed emotions when fans questioned about Theo’s tennis future.
Sharapova’s time at the Wimbledon must be fresh in everyone’s memory. The Russian tennis legend shared some pictures while giving a tour of Centre Court to her son. Moreover, the mother pointed to her name on the winner’s board while carrying her son, before calling it a day with a family picture on the green grass of the famous Centre Court. Fast forward to the US Open, during an Instagram, “Ask me anything” session, the tennis legend seemed a bit confused about Theo’s future in tennis, when fans asked her, “Will you introduce Theo to tennis?”
While revealing that her son already has a tennis racquet, Sharapova replied, “He has a racquet. But whether or not he is showing much interest is TBD, there is time.” Rightly so, Theo is too young to pick a sport and decide to stick with it for the rest of his life. Hence, the mother has left the choice open to discussion in the future. This might have come against the expectations of some fans after the Wimbledon photo session of the former World No.1.
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Though Sharapova has postponed the decision about her son’s tennis career into the future, (winks), she enjoyed the US Open and the New York City atmosphere while Aryna Sabalenka crushed Emma Navarro’s hope of making it to her first Grand Slam final. When the US Open captured some serious discussion with her fiancé, Alexander Gikes,the former tennis player had a funny take on the snippet as she traveled back in time to her playing days. She said, “😅 I look like I just missed a second serve return on break point. And saw my coach’s reaction 😆.”
However, coming back to kids and tennis players. Maria Sharapova is not the only former tennis star who has been questioned about the future of her child in tennis. Her arch nemesis during her professional days, Serena Williams, has also tackled some questions related to her elder daughter’s future in tennis.
Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams: A tale of two tennis powerhouse mothers and their kids
Should Maria Sharapova push Theo into tennis, or let him find his own path?
Sharapova’s toddler son is just 2 years old, and he already has a racquet. And a similar instance was observed back in time when the 23-time Grand Slam champion introduced her daughter Olympia to tennis as a three-year-old. Rather a way to indulge her in a socially safe sport during COVID-19. “Honestly, we started because it’s a socially safe sport, and when Covid happened, it was like: ‘We’re just in the house with a three-year-old, what do we do?”
However, the tennis community saw it as an initiation of the daughter to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Hence, when Williams said that Olympia “doesn’t actually like to play tennis too much,” came as a shock for everyone. And over the years we have seen Jr. Ohanian trying her hands at various sports, including Golf and Gymnastics.
Maria Sharapova and Williams have somewhere followed the same path when it comes to their kids taking up their sport. It would be interesting to see whether the powerhouse of tennis during their heydays would be taking up the coaching role for their kids if they chose tennis!
