Olympic Champion Monica Puig Welcomes Daughter Mila

Puerto Rican Tennis Star Shares Joy of New Motherhood

Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig has announced the arrival of her first child, a daughter named Mila Alexandra Rakitt, born on July 30. The former World No. 27 expressed an overwhelming sense of love following the birth.

A New Chapter Beyond the Court

The 31-year-old tennis icon, who retired from professional play in the summer of 2022 due to persistent injuries, shared the happy news approximately two weeks before the ninth anniversary of her historic Olympic triumph. In 2016, an unseeded **Puig** captivated the world by winning Puerto Rico’s first-ever Olympic tennis gold medal at just 22 years old.

**Puig** has been sharing intimate glimpses of her new life as a mother with her over 500,000 Instagram followers, though she has chosen to keep Mila’s face private for now. Recent posts have featured candid hospital moments, early family introductions, and strolls around town.

“Unconditional [love],” **Puig** captioned a recent series of photographs, prompting a wave of congratulations from the tennis community. Tennis legend **Chris Evert** commented her agreement, while current star **Coco Gauff** led the well-wishes from **Puig**’s WTA Tour peers.

“Yup.”

—Chris Evert, 18-time Grand Slam Champion

Fellow former finalists **Sabine Lisicki** and **Lucie Safarova**, both mothers themselves, welcomed **Puig** to the parenting “club.” Other notable figures offering their support included **Carla Suárez Navarro**, **Barbora Strycova**, **Tracy Austin**, **Shelby Rogers**, **Johanna Konta**, and **Alison Riske-Amritraj**.

Post-Retirement Joy

Since stepping away from the demands of professional tennis, **Puig** has embraced new experiences. Becoming a mother marks a significant personal milestone. The World Health Organization estimates that globally, around 4 million babies are born each year with the help of assisted reproductive technology, highlighting the diverse paths to parenthood today.