Victoria Azarenka is expecting her first child and is out for at least the remainder of 2016, but the former World No. 1 still has the passion for tennis—and then some. Azarenka wrote a column for Sports Illustrated this week and shared her keen observations about tennis in the 2016 Olympic Games. Azarenka earned two medals at the 2012 London Games and cannot hide her love for Olympics and her support for tennis as an Olympic sport.

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“There has been a lot of talk about the Olympics not being important to the sport of tennis because we have four Grand Slams in a calendar year, but I believe that the tennis event in Rio proved that this couldn’t be more inaccurate,” Azarenka wrote. “Those that doubt that the Olympics isn’t important to tennis players should take a moment to reflect on the Rio 2016 Olympic tennis event and the passion of everyone who competed, because they made me proud to be part of the sport of tennis.”

Tennis’ place in the Olympics has been a hot topic of debate ever since the sport returned to the games in 1988, and the notable absences of many players has sparked fresh dialog. But Azarenka states her case clearly—there’s nothing like the Olympics, and there’s nothing like Olympic tennis.

“For me personally, no other tennis event compares to the Olympics,” she writes. “As a kid the Olympics is what you think about as the pinnacle of sport before you learn about the big events specific to your sport. Winning two Olympic medals is definitely one of the highlights of my career, especially because you only have the opportunity once every four years, which alone makes it so much more special. Winning a Grand Slam is the goal of a tennis player but winning an Olympic medal is the goal of a global athlete, so to be part of that elite group is an honor.”

Azarenka even says that the Olympics inspired her to continue planning her life as an elite athlete after becoming a mother. “For the first time this year I paid attention to how many athletes have come back after having children, to then go on to compete at the highest level in their sport,” she wrote. “The most wonderful article I have seen during this time was filled with photographs of Olympic champions celebrating with their kids—motivation at its finest!”