Tsvetana Pironkova welcomes second son, Viktor, to growing family

Tsvetana Pironkova welcomed a new addition to her family last Wednesday, announcing the birth of son Victor on Instagram.

“We feel good, happy and grateful!” she captioned in Bulgarian. “Huge thanks to Dr. Topalova and the entire team on duty at Selena Hospital for their dedicated care and support!”

Pironkova, who married boyfriend Mikhail Mirchev in 2016, was one of the tour’s growing number of moms when she rejoined the circuit in 2020 after giving birth to her first child, son Alexander, in 2018. A former Wimbledon semifinalist, the fan favorite Bulgarian made an unexpected return to action following the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 using a protected ranking for that year’s US Open.

To the surprise of everyone and no one, the enigmatic Pironkova lost none of the magic that took her to No. 31 in the WTA rankings and promptly stormed into the quarterfinals with wins over Garbiñe Muguruza and Donna Vekic.

“Coming from three year of absence on the tour, you always have your doubts,” she admitted after overcoming Muguruza. “Right now, my results actually make me really happy because it shows that I did the right things preparing for this comeback. That makes me proud.”

After taking a set from Serena Williams in the last eight, she proved similarly impressive at the postponed Roland Garros that fall, reaching the third round and pushing future French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova to a decider.

“I don't know how to really explain it,” she said. “It's just great to be playing without that extra pressure that I had on my myself before. Before it was like almost life-and-death situation for me to win a match. Right now, it's not really like that. It's before all just enjoyment to be on the court.”

She ended her 2021 season at the US Open and left tour again, giving no indication of whether she plans to return.