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Lorenzo Musetti recently cited Serena Williams' example to shed light on the reason why women athletes find it harder to get back to their best after becoming mothers compared to men after becoming fathers. Musetti also briefly touched on his partner Veronica's second pregnancy and how he has handled it better than to her first one.
Musetti, the current ATP No. 8, began by delivering his opinion on why male athletes often celebrate fatherhood by using their fingers similar to how babies use pacifiers. The Italian told d la Repubblica:
"I understand why. We men celebrate, we reenact childish gestures, we express our joy in this way, with a thought for those waiting for us at home."
Going on to voice his take on why female athletes almost never celebrate in the same manner after becoming mothers, Lorenzo Musetti explained how biological changes in women make it incredibly challenging for them to pursue professional sports post-motherhood. He cited the examples of retired tennis stars Flavia Pennetta and Serena Williams, as well as that of former swimmer Federica Pellegrini, to drive home his point.
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"But an athlete who has given birth feels differently; her body has gone through many changes. It's a difficult choice for them; almost all of them postpone pregnancy until the end of their careers, like Flavia Pennetta and Federica Pellegrini. Even Serena Williams , who used to dominate, hasn't managed to win a Grand Slam since becoming a mother," Musetti said.
Serena Williams, a 23-time singles Major winner, became a mother for the first time in September 2017. However, from the time of her return the following year to the time of her retirement at the 2022 US Open, she couldn't add to her Grand Slam title haul.
Despite citing Serena Williams' example, Lorenzo Musetti hailed Belinda Bencic; opened up on 'more serene' experience of partner Veronica's second pregnancy
Not long after citing the example of Serena Williams, Lorenzo Musetti lauded the comeback of Swiss WTA star Belinda Bencic. In November 2023, Bencic announced her pregnancy, and after the conclusion of her maternity leave, she returned to competitive tennis action in 2024.
The Swiss continued to compete in 2025 and registered several impressive results, including titles in Abu Dhabi and Tokyo, as well as a semifinal finish at the Wimbledon Championships. She ended the year as the WTA No. 11.
"I congratulate Swiss Belinda Bencic on her return, Olympic champion in Tokyo and mother of Bella last year. She did well," Musetti said.
The Italian subsequently spoke up about how he took to partner Veronica's second pregnancy much more smoothly in comparison to her first with the couple's son Ludovico, which was unplanned.
"That said, I try to help out at home; I did the last wash before leaving Monte Carlo, where we live. I'm not a messy man; I don't leave things lying around. And I experienced Veronica's second pregnancy with more serenity," he added.
Lorenzo Musetti himself had a stellar 2025, finishing in the ATP top 10 on the back of a 45-22 win-loss record despite not winning a title.
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