Monica Puig took to Instagram this weekend to share some great news: she is pregnant with her first child. Puig and her husband Nathan Rakitt are set to become parents. After the two got engaged in late 2021, the former Puerto Rican tennis star ended her career in 2022 due to multiple injuries that plagued her throughout her career. Shortly after ending her pro tennis journey at the age of 29, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist married Rakitt in November of that year. Now, the two are expecting their first child. “So excited to jump into our most exciting adventure yet! Baby girl Rakitt coming Summer 2025,” Puig announced on Instagram.
In the comment section, many players took a second to congratulate the couple, including Coco Gauff, Ajla Tomljanovic, Sorana Cirstea, Alison Riske, Sabine Lisicki, Timea Babos, and others. The former world No. 27 was so heartwarmed by the messages that she decided to issue a short response through an Instagram Story. “Maybe it’s the hormones but I’m just tearing up with all the messages! Thank you all so much (heart emoji). So excited for this new chapter,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
Meanwhile, Puig walked away from pro tennis nearly three years after several surgeries left a major toll on her body. “After a tough 3-year fight with injuries and 4 surgeries, my body had enough,” the former two-time WTA champion announced in mid-2022. “This decision isn’t an easy one because I would’ve loved to retire on my own terms, but sometimes life has other plans and we have to open new doors that lead to exciting possibilities.” Since retiring, the Puerto Rican has worked as an analyst and commentator, mostly for Tennis Channel. Puig and her husband Nathan Rakitt shared the news through Instagram.
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Cori Gauff in 2025
Now ranked no.3, the American played her last match on the 21st of January when she surrendered to world no.10 Paula Badosa 7-5 6-4 in the quarter of the Australian Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season Coco owns an overall 9-1 match record. Coco has won 1 title in Australia.
Gauff has scheduled to play next in Doha (Qatar TotalEnergies Open). She will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 10th of February.
