Mandy Minella has announced the birth of daughter Emma Lina via a post on Twitter.
The 31-year-old, who reached a career-high ranking of World No.66 in singles and No.47 in doubles, joins Serena Williams as a WTA star to have given birth this year, having announced that she was expecting in the summer.
“Your first breath took ours away,” the Luxembourger posted on her social media account on October 31, indicating her baby daughter was a day old.
Your first breath took ours away
Welcome Emma Lina ? pic.twitter.com/DDj0Z4hHba— mandy minella (@mandyminella) October 31, 2017
Minella last took part in a competitive match at Wimbledon, when she was four months pregnant, and lost 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the singles to Francesca Schiavone, having been ranked as high as World No.67 as recently as April this year.
It was a doubles match with partner Anastasija Sevastova that proved her last competitive clash before taking a break for maternity leave as they lost out 6-1, 7-6 (2) to qualifiers Ipek Soylu and Varatchaya Wongteanchai in the first round.
She has previously expressed her desire to return to the WTA, following in the footsteps of Victoria Azarenka, who returned to action in the summer after giving birth in December 2016.
“I have an opportunity to play Grand Slams again, to play big tournaments,” Minella said at Wimbledon. “I would like to get back in shape, also for me, and I would like to finish on my terms as well, so we will see where it will bring me.”