Former women’s world No.1 Victoria Azarenka has become a mother for the first time, with the Belarusian player announcing the birth of a baby boy on Twitter Tuesday.
“Today I had my hardest fight and my very best victory! Our son was born healthy and happy! So thankful and blessed!” she tweeted.
The 27-year-old two-time Australian Open champion last played in the French Open first round in May and stepped away from the game before saying she was pregnant.
Azarenka has stated her intention to return to the WTA as soon as practicable and vowed to return to winning ways. If that scenario works, she would follow the example set by Kim Clijsters, who came back to play at the top level after each of two pregnancies.
Azarenka received congratulations on Twitter from fellow players including Briton Laura Robson, Swiss Belinda Bencic and Australian Daria Gavrilova. Former great Martina Navratilova also chimed in with a message.