WINTER DREAMS

Roger Federer's wife Mirka has given birth to twin girls, the world number one announced on his website.

The 15-times Grand Slam winner said Charlene Riva and Myla Rose had been born on Thursday in Switzerland.

"This is the greatest day of our lives," Federer said on the website. "Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well."

The last time a mother won a singles Grand Slam crown was in 1980 when Australian Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon.

Since then, only eight men have captured a major after embracing the joys of fatherhood.

While four -- Pat Cash, Andres Gomez, Petr Korda and Albert Costa -- were one-slam wonders, multiple champions Boris Becker, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andre Agassi managed to add just one further slam to their haul after becoming parents.

Jimmy Connors was the only singles player to successfully combine family life with playing on the tour in that time, winning three of his eight Majors after the birth of his son Brett in August 1979.

For the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, the titles dried up as soon as they gingerly cradled the new additions to their families.

Tennis fathers have won only 10 of the last 115 Grand Slam titles.

"(Fatherhood) changes (your) life dramatically," explained Becker, who won the 1996 Australian Open after the birth of his first son Noah.

"It would be more difficult to focus on one thing alone because your main focus is for your child and your wife, and tennis becomes secondary. That's a fact."
Reuters