Despite a first round loss at the US Open on Tuesday, Casey Dellacqua declared she has even more to play for after revealing her partner Amanda has recently had a baby.
Dellacqua says their baby Blake Benjamin arrived just three weeks ago.
“It was my time to be at home and it was my time to relax and enjoy myself,” she said, explaining her absence from tennis after Wimbledon.
“I’m loving motherhood, my whole thing in life is family and it’s been a pretty exciting time,” says Dellacqua.
Dellacqua, who has seen a dip in her singles form but had a standout year on the doubles circuit, says she doesn’t think the birth will make her want to cut back on tennis and spend more time at home.
“If anything, I don’t know, maybe it makes me a bit more motivated because I’ve got something to play for,” she says.
Dellacqua says that while she’s passionate about tennis, it’s not everything to her.
“It’s an elite sport but there’s so much more to life and for me that’s what life’s about, about family so we’ll try and make it work,” she said.
“You see a lot of players out on tour with families.”
Dellacqua said her success at doubles this year with youngster and fellow countrywoman Ashleigh Barty had been amazing.
“We’ve played four tournaments, made two grand slam finals and won a WTA event so it’ll be good to get back out there with Ash,” she said.
Dellacqua is also looking forward to playing mixed doubles with Scott Lipsky, with whom she won the French Open mixed doubles crown in 2011.