The tennis champions we celebrate at the Australian Open have in so many ways been guided to the top of sport by their own, original champions – their mums.
It’s a story several of our Australian tennis stars, now mothers themselves, are celebrating as Mother’s Day approaches.
To mark the day on Sunday 10 May, the AO Shop presents its Mother’s Day Gift Guide – the perfect way to honour your mum for always being the champion in your life.
It's a curated collection inspired by champions, featuring everyday essentials and standout accessories, plus 20 per cent off already-reduced prices in the AO x Ralph Lauren collection.
The AO Shop’s Mother’s Day campaign reminds us that behind every champion is a believer, something Casey Dellacqua can confirm.
“My Mum taught me belief and resilience,” revealed Dellacqua, a former top-30 singles player and doubles champion and now a mother of three.
“My coaches taught me technique and strategy, but my mum taught me how to keep going when things are tough and how to believe in yourself when no one else does. That kind of support has stayed with me far beyond sport.”
Dellacqua overcame multiple injuries and a serious concussion later in her career to reach the highest heights in the sport.
In singles, she twice reached the second week of the Australian Open, while in doubles she was a Roland Garros mixed champion and also reached multiple Grand Slam women’s doubles finals with Ash Barty.
“Competing at the highest level taught me that nothing comes easy. Talent will only take you so far; hard work, discipline and consistency are what really matters,” said Dellacqua, who in retirement now guides the next generation of women and girls in her role at Tennis NSW.
“I try to teach my kids that if they want something, they have to be willing to work for it and keep showing up even on the days when it’s tough or when things don’t go their way.”
It was a similar story for Sam Stosur, who overcame serious illness as a rising star to ultimately become a US Open champion in 2011. That promising career would not have been possible without the support of her family, and especially her mum.
Now a mother of two herself, Stosur – who ended her career with eight Grand Slam trophies – recognises those sacrifices more than ever.
“There is no way I understood what my mum or whole family did for me to be able to go to tennis at the time when I was kid, but I sure have so much gratitude now for all of them,” she said.
“The gratitude [from kids] may not be there today or tomorrow but in the future it will be.”
Stosur, whose five-year-old daughter Genevieve was joined by baby sister Emmeline last July, competed on tour at the highest level for almost 20 years.
That tennis journey taught her many lessons: that it’s OK to make mistakes, that these mistakes help you learn and grow, and that what you can control most is enjoying yourself and trying your hardest.
It’s wisdom she hopes to pass on to her kids, and it’s shaping her perspective as she enjoys the post-retirement phase of her life.
“Life and decisions in hindsight actually seem pretty straight forward now,” she admitted.
“Now decisions that we have to make involve the whole family, there are arguably more considerations. Playing and going through my career was by no means easy but I have a different perspective now for sure.”
Daria Saville is now experiencing that perspective shift herself.
The former world No.20 recently became a mum when she and tennis-pro husband Luke Saville welcomed son Louie into the world in March.
"Nobody warned me about the love,” Saville revealed.
“Everyone talks about the sleep deprivation, the feeding, the relentlessness of it – and yes, all of that is real.
“But nobody tells you about this feeling that just knocks you sideways from day one. It's completely overwhelming in the best possible way."
Saville’s tennis journey, which saw her last compete at the 2025 US Open, taught her the value of hard work and resilience, an example she hopes to provide to her son.
She’s also hoping to pass on the lessons she learned from her own mum.
"My mum taught me that home is always safe. No matter what happened on court – a bad loss, a tough tournament – I knew that when I walked through her door, none of it defined me,” Saville said.
“I want to be that for Louie."