Anett Kontaveit shared the joyful news that she had become a mother for the first time after welcoming her son, Leon.
Kontaveit was a fierce competitor during her professional tennis career. Her mentality and ability took her to No. 2 in the world in June 2022, an outstanding achievement she should still be proud of.
The Estonian's best run at a Grand Slam was to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Australian Open. However, she peaked during 2021 and the first half of 2022, climbing the rankings with several terrific results.
Kontaveit qualified for the 2021 WTA Finals after winning four titles. She reached the final of the year-end tournament, losing to two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza in the biggest final of her career.
Other achievements included making the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Qatar, winning six titles, and reaching 17 WTA Tour finals throughout her career. That was all done before she turned 27.
Unfortunately, Kontaveit was forced to retire from the sport in June 2023 following her diagnosis of lumbar disc degeneration. She undoubtedly would have achieved so many other great things, making her early retirement aged 27 particularly sad.
Kontaveit played her last professional match at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. Her final farewell came in November at an exhibition in Tallinn, Estonia, against Ons Jabeur, who graciously agreed to appear for Kontaveit's final goodbye.
The former world No. 2 was very happy with her tennis achievements despite retiring early, and Kontaveit has announced exciting personal news that will undoubtedly keep her busy for the long term.
After previously telling fans she was pregnant in May, she notified fans that her son, Leo, was born last week in a brief but content post on her Instagram account.
"First week with our Leon. So much love."
The full name of Kontaveit and her longtime boyfriend Brent Lepistu's son is Leon Enzo Lepistu. It was a wonderful moment for the pair, and they received numerous congratulations on social media.
Kontaveit's early retirement from tennis was undoubtedly challenging. The WTA Tour would certainly be even more vibrant and exciting if the 2021 WTA Finals runner-up were still competing.
However, not having to worry about the stresses and strains of professional tennis means Kontaveit can fully focus on caring for her new son rather than considering whether and how long to go on maternity leave.
Kontaveit has made it clear that she has no intention of going into coaching, although she wants to finish her University education. The former WTA star studies psychology at Indiana University and is scheduled to graduate in May 2025.
It is unclear whether Kontaveit will graduate later after giving birth to her son or as planned next year. The Estonian's strong work ethic means studying while being a mother to a newborn son is possible.
The 28-year-old seems content with her post-retirement life, which is great to see. Transitioning away from tennis is something many players have struggled with, but that does not seem to apply to Kontaveit.
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