"Beautiful"; "Auntie is ready": Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula & other tennis players congratulate Anett Kontaveit on pregnancy news

Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, and several other tennis players flooded Anett Kontaveit with congratulatory messages after the former World No. 2 announced her pregnancy. Kontaveit shared portraits from her photoshoot with her boyfriend to share the news.

Anett Kontaveit has been dating an Estonian footballer and midfielder for Premium Liiga club FCI Levadia, Brent Lepistu, since 2022. The couple made their relationship public in September of that year when Lepistu attended the Tallinn Open to cheer on the former tennis player. They have since treated fans to highlights of their vacations together, and they frequently show their admiration for each other on social media.

On Thursday, May 16, Kontaveit and Lepistu announced that they are expecting their first child together by sharing pictures from their all-black-themed pregnancy photoshoot.

"New family member on the way," Anett Kontaveit wrote on Instagram.

Several tennis players, including Ons Jabeur, were delighted by the news.

"Awwww," Ons Jabeur wrote in the comments. "Auntie Ons in ready."

Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Katie Boulter, and Sloane Stephens also congratulated the former World No. 2. Taylor Townsend, too, chimed in, admiring their photoshoot portraits.

"Congratulations. Weewww this is gonna be one good looking kid," she wrote.

Here are a few more reactions from tennis players:

Tennis players, including Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, and Jessica Pegula, on Instagram

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Anett Kontaveit retired from tennis just months before her pregnancy announcement

Anett Kontaveit and Marie Bouzkova pictured at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships

Anett Kontaveit’s pregnancy announcement comes less than a year after she retires from tennis. The Estonian, who won six career titles and enjoyed a career-high ranking of No. 2, shocked the tennis world in June 2023 when she shared her plan to hang the racket at the age of 27.

Kontaveit cited persistent back injury as the primary reason for her decision.

"After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back. This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition. Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field," she said in her statement.

The 28-year-old played her final professional match against Marie Bouzkova in the second round of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. In November, she competed against Ons Jabeur at her farewell exhibition event in her hometown, Tallinn.

"Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that. It has been important for me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts and to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world," Kontaveit added. "I am ready for new challenges."

Following her retirement, Anett Kontaveit is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in psychology at Indiana University in the US.