When she walked away from the game of tennis in the summer of 2017, there was no way for Tsvetana Pironkova to know if she would ever return.
Motherhood was calling and Bulgaria’s Pironkova made the decision to take a break from the WTA Tour at the age of 29, following Wimbledon of that year. In March 2018, Alexander was born to Pironkova and her husband, former Bulgarian soccer player Mikhail Mirchev.
Fast forward to the 2020 US Open, and Pironkova has become the story of the women’s singles draw as she finds herself into her first US Open quarterfinal as an unranked player, following her three-set win against Alize Cornet of France in the fourth round on Monday.
As one of nine mothers in the singles field, Pironkova will next face off against Olympia Ohanian’s mom, better known simply as Serena. "She’s obviously a legend," Pironkova said of the No. 3 seed, and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. "Physically, she's super strong. Mentally, she's super strong. She has it all."
In four career meetings, Pironkova has been unable to solve the puzzle that is Serena. “Playing such a champion, such a legend of the game, it's a tremendous honor, obviously,” said Pironkova, who has already defeated two seeds this fortnight, No. 10 Garbiñe Muguruza and No.18 Donna Vekic. “I'm really looking forward to that match, because I know the feeling is going to be very special. I will try to do my best, and I can't wait.”
Pironkova said everything about mothering has helped her game. "Obviously, you become a different person," she said. "You don't focus on yourself that much anymore, because your focus is primary on your child. And I guess that's a good thing [smiling]. I'm a lot more organized, as well. Mentally, I have more mental endurance.
"Physically, I know my body better," she added.
Once she made the decision to return to the game, Pironkova spent time working on her serve and groundstrokes. “I worked on a lot, a lot of things,” she said. "Obviously, mentally it's very different for me now. I'm not really putting that much pressure on myself. I mostly enjoy the game, and I do believe that's the point of that game—to enjoy it."
In 2012 Pironkova had her best US Open getting to the fourth round. "It means a lot to be here after three years of absence," she said. "And this being my first tournament, having this great result, is something very special. Obviously, the US Open holds a special place in my heart."
She calls Wimbledon her favorite of the Grand Slams. "All the slams are very special for all the players," she said. "Obviously, Wimbledon is one of my favorite slams, as I did very well there, as well. There is something about it in the atmosphere, in the surface, in the smell of the grass, wearing all white, and all the traditions just kind of make it special."
Being away from her son has been tough these past two weeks, and Pironkova got emotional in her post-match on-court interview when she was reminded of him. Later, she was asked how important having family with her in New York was as she is being coached by her older brother Encho Pironkov.
"I have a great relationship with my brother," said Pironkova, who reached a career-high of No. 31 in 2010, the same year she had her career-best Slam, making the semifinals at Wimbledon. “He's actually the person that I play tennis the most with, like he has been my hitting partner ever since day one when we were kids. We have been playing together all the time, so he knows me very well. Not only on the personal level, but also on a professional one.
"He's also a great support. He's very calm, like me. So we are really alike, and we have good communication."
Her father, Kiril Pironkov, has coached her for most of her career. He is a former canoeing champion, and her mother, Radosveta Chinkova Nikolova, is a former swimmer.
"It’s special," she said of having her family’s support. "For me, in my career, I can say it’s a family thing. Because without my family, I probably wouldn't be here."
