Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella has played her final singles match of the year after crashing out in the first round at Wimbledon on Monday.
The 31-year-old failed to tame her opponent, Francesca Schiavone, who strolled to a 6-2, 6-2, win. Throughout the encounter Schiavone dropped just three points on her serve, none of which were in the first set. It is the third time that Manella has lost in the first round at SW19, but this time she doesn’t mind.
Shortly after the match, she publicly announced that she was expecting a baby girl and is currently four-and-a-half months pregnant. During her first round clash, the 31-year-old was seen wearing a loose-fitting dress.
“Wimbledon is my last tournament this season,” she said on Monday.
Minella later posted a photo on social media of her standing on the court with her husband Tim Sommer kissing her stomach. Sommer is also Minella’s coach and the two married in 2014 in her home town of Esch-sur-Alzette.
— mandy minella (@mandyminella) 4 July 2017
Earlier this year Serena Williams won the Australian Open title whilst pregnant. The former world No.1 discovered that she was expecting a baby in early January and told her partner on the eve of the tournament. Williams is expecting her baby later this year. Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka played at last year’s French Open during the early stages of her pregnancy.
Before taking maternity leave, Minella will play in the Wimbledon doubles competition later this week alongside Anastasija Sevastova. Currently ranked 82nd, her highest ranking in singles was 66th in September 2012.
