Kerber and Wozniacki, from diaper duty to Grand Slam glory: can they do it?

As the 2024 Australian Open is set to kick off on Sunday, January 14, the event will see the return of two former champions who have also embraced motherhood during their time away from the courts.

Former World No.1's Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki will both be on the comeback tour in Melbourne, as each woman competes in the first Grand Slam of the year for the first time since becoming moms. Kerber gave birth to her daughter in February 2023, whereas Wozniacki, who retired in 2020 to start a family, has two children and is ready to make some noise at the site of her only Major title triumph.

The duo got together for a practice session on Friday ahead of the Australian Open, and afterwards Wozniacki spoke on their friendship, which has lasted for over a decade.

"In general, we just catch up on a regular basis, even when we weren't on tour, seeing how life kind of was going," Wozniacki told reporters at Media Day. "It's nice to see her back. "It's great to still have our generation here. There's a lot of young players. Some players were probably born the year I turned pro. I definitely feel young on the inside, but I realize I'm no longer in my 20s. In tennis, I'm in the older generation."

Kerber, who is one of six mothers to compete in the Australian Open main draw this year, would like to become the first woman to win a major as a mother since Kim Clijsters won three from 2009-2011.

"I think we are all trying to inspire [each other]," Kerber told reporters. "It is great to see moms coming back. Especially now, I think it's also really interesting for the fans, for the people outside, to see us playing again, how the comebacks will go. I think also for us, it is a completely different mindset because, of course, we are not really the important person right now in our lives, there is someone else."