After major champions Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams returned to play after giving birth in 2017 and 2018, it seemed to usher in something of a baby boom on the WTA Tour. The WTA even introduced a new maternity leave benefit earlier this year. There were nine mothers in the main draw at Wimbledon this year.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka takes on Amanda Anisimova for a place in the Wimbledon final on Thursday as Iga Swiatek faces former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.AFP Sport looks at the two semi-finals at the All England Club:Aryna Sabalenka v Amanda AnisimovaTop seed Aryna Sabalenka did not drop a set at Wimbledon in the first four rounds but had to survive an almighty scare to see off 104th-ranked Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals.

Beneath all the noise of crowning a new Wimbledon champion this weekend lies a story that could be as captivating as it is historic. The 2025 edition of the most prestigious Grand Slam tournament started with nine mothers in the singles draw,