Sabine Lisicki and her physical ordeal after pregnancy

Pedro de Pablos | 4 Feb 2026 | 13.26

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Over the last few months, the WTA circuit has seen great stories of resilience. Players returning after motherhood to reach their peak again, like Elina Svitolina or Belinda Bencic. However, Sabine Lisicki represents the flip side of the story, as she has not competed since 2023 and has shared the ordeal she has been going through since giving birth.

Lisicki became a mother in September 2024, so she took a few months off that turned out to be longer than expected. The former world number 12 of the WTA had planned to return in 2025, but a few months ago, she shared a heart-wrenching message on her social media. "I am a mom and never thought I would not return to competition between 9 and 12 months after childbirth. Wondering why? Because I saw so many moms getting back in shape in the blink of an eye and doing it all...", she recounted.

Based on experiences of fellow professionals, the former Wimbledon finalist did not anticipate that her case would be different, but she was mistaken. "Even though I breastfed day and night for a year, with 4 to 5 hours of sleep at night as my new normal, I tried to train, but my body needed more time. Time to recover from creating a miracle and bringing it into this world. And that's okay. And it's completely normal."

Lisicki reveals she has had to undergo another surgery due to pregnancy

However, that's not all, as the German recently updated on the current process she is going through, which requires another surgery due to issues related to childbirth. "Motherhood demands a lot from you, sometimes more than you expect. I underwent an abdominal surgery related to pregnancy and childbirth. I am grateful that the problem has been identified and addressed," she disclosed.

Now Lisicki has come to understand that not all stories are the same, and hers is nothing like those examples she looked to for what lay ahead. "This is part of the motherhood process. I am now focusing on recovery and giving my body the time it needs to heal."

At 36 years old, she is currently without a ranking and experiencing one of the most challenging moments of her career. A woman who has undergone several surgeries and complicated injuries but is now facing a situation that not only entails significant physical strain but also mental stress due to the uncertainty of not having a fixed recovery timeline, or even knowing if she will be able to compete at the highest level again someday.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabine Lisicki y su calvario físico tras el embarazo