Mary Carillo has two children, a son named Anthony and a daughter named Rachel, from her former marriage to tennis instructor Bill Bowden. The WTA has publicly identified both children, and Carillo has spoken about her family while continuing her long broadcasting career. In August 2026, Carillo was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the Contributor Category, adding another major milestone to her career. 

Introduction

The question “Mary Carillo children” has drawn renewed interest as the veteran tennis broadcaster reaches another major milestone in her career. Mary Carillo has two children: son Anthony and daughter Rachel, whom she had with her former husband, tennis instructor Bill Bowden. The family has generally maintained a relatively private life, although Carillo has occasionally discussed her children publicly.

The latest attention comes after a significant moment in Carillo's professional life. On August 29, 2026, she was formally inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in the Contributor Category. The ceremony recognized her decades-long influence on tennis through broadcasting and journalism.

Her family story is also part of that broader career journey. Carillo became a mother while building a groundbreaking career in sports broadcasting, at a time when women had far fewer opportunities in sports media.

What Happened?

Mary Carillo and Bill Bowden have two children together:

• Anthony, their son, was born in 1987.
• Rachel, their daughter, was born in 1991.

The WTA has directly referenced both Anthony and Rachel in its coverage of Carillo. In 2022, when Carillo received the Georgina Clark Mother Award, the organization reported that messages from her son Anthony and daughter Rachel were shown during the event. Rachel was unable to attend because she had recently given birth.

Carillo has largely kept her children's lives away from the intense public spotlight surrounding her own career.

That is particularly notable because she has spent more than four decades as one of the most recognizable voices in American sports broadcasting.

Who Are Mary Carillo's Children?

Anthony Carillo

Mary Carillo's son is Anthony.

The WTA's profile of Carillo notes that she gave birth to Anthony in 1987. The organization also highlighted an important moment from Carillo's early broadcasting career: after becoming a mother, she was determined to continue working at the U.S. Open despite the demands of balancing motherhood and her rapidly developing career.

Anthony has generally stayed out of the mainstream media spotlight. In a 2021 interview with the USTA, however, Carillo mentioned that her son was an actor, providing one of the more direct public references to his professional interests.

Carillo's comments demonstrate that her family has remained an important part of her life even while she was traveling extensively for work.

Rachel Carillo

Mary Carillo's daughter is Rachel, who was born in 1991.

Rachel has maintained an even lower public profile than her mother. The WTA has nevertheless referenced her several times in connection with Carillo's family.

In 2022, Rachel had recently given birth when Carillo received the Georgina Clark Mother Award. More recently, in a 2025 WTA feature, Carillo discussed spending more time with family and said her daughter was pregnant with her third child.

That means Carillo's role in the family has expanded from being a mother to also being a grandmother.

The WTA reported that Carillo was looking forward to spending substantial time with family and telling stories to the younger members of the family.

Key Details About Mary Carillo's Children

The most consistently documented details include:

• Number of children: Two
• Son: Anthony
• Daughter: Rachel
• Anthony's birth year: 1987
• Rachel's birth year: 1991
• Father: Bill Bowden
• Mother: Mary Carillo
• Family connection to tennis: Both parents had strong connections to the sport
• Rachel: Became a mother herself, making Carillo a grandmother
• Anthony: Has been publicly described by Carillo as an actor

Some websites publish additional details about the children's education, careers and private lives. Those claims are not all supported by primary or authoritative sources, so they should be treated cautiously.

Background: Mary Carillo's Family and Tennis Career

Mary Carillo was born in New York and grew up in Queens. She became close friends with John McEnroe during childhood, and the two eventually won the 1977 French Open mixed doubles title together.

Carillo's professional playing career was short. Knee problems contributed to the end of her competitive tennis career in 1980.

She then moved into broadcasting and journalism, eventually becoming a prominent voice across tennis and other major sporting events.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame describes her as a trailblazing broadcast journalist whose influence extended far beyond her playing career. The Hall notes that she won the 1977 Roland-Garros mixed doubles title with McEnroe before building a decades-long broadcasting career.

Her career included coverage of the Olympics, tennis tournaments and other sporting events. The WTA reported that she covered 16 Olympic Games and spent 27 years with HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

Balancing Motherhood and Broadcasting

Carillo's experience as a mother became part of her professional story.

The WTA recalled that after Anthony was born in 1987, Carillo wanted to continue working at the U.S. Open. John McEnroe encouraged her to reconsider because of the demands involved, but she continued pursuing her career.

That decision is significant in the context of sports media at the time.

Carillo entered broadcasting when women were still underrepresented in sports commentary. Her ability to build a long-term career while raising two children became one element of the broader story of her career.

In 2022, the WTA recognized her with the Georgina Clark Mother Award, further acknowledging her role as a mother within the tennis community.

What Officials and Organizations Said

The strongest recent official recognition of Carillo's career came from the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame inducted Carillo as part of its Class of 2026 in the Contributor Category. She was inducted alongside 20-time major champion Roger Federer during the ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 29.

The WTA also celebrated her induction, describing her as an iconic sportscaster, analyst and former player. Billie Jean King introduced Carillo at the ceremony.

While the Hall of Fame recognition is primarily about Carillo's professional contribution to tennis, it also comes at a point when she has spoken about spending more time with her family and grandchildren.

Why This Matters

The interest in Mary Carillo children goes beyond simply identifying two names.

Carillo's family story provides context for a career that developed during a period when women faced significant barriers in sports broadcasting.

She became a mother in the middle of her transition from professional tennis player to broadcaster, yet continued building a career that eventually included major international sporting events and prestigious journalism awards.

Her experience also shows the distinction between public career achievements and private family life. While Carillo has spoken openly about her affection for her children and family, Anthony and Rachel have generally remained outside the celebrity spotlight.

That privacy makes it important not to present unverified online claims about their personal lives as established facts.

Mary Carillo's 2026 Hall of Fame Milestone

The biggest recent development involving Carillo is her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The Hall officially announced that Carillo and Federer were inducted on August 29, 2026. They became the 271st and 272nd legends inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Carillo entered under the Contributor Category, which recognizes people whose contributions have significantly influenced tennis outside the traditional player category.

The honor reflects the unusual breadth of her career: she succeeded as both a professional tennis player and one of the sport's most respected broadcasters.

What Happens Next?

Carillo's Hall of Fame induction marks a major new chapter in her legacy, but it does not appear to signal the end of her work.

In recent interviews, she has continued discussing tennis, broadcasting and storytelling. The WTA reported in 2025 that she wanted to continue telling stories through documentaries, long-form work and other projects.

At the same time, Carillo has indicated that family has become increasingly important to her. With her daughter Rachel having children of her own, Carillo now has a growing extended family to spend time with.

For readers specifically searching for Mary Carillo children, the central confirmed fact remains simple: she has two children, Anthony and Rachel.

FAQs

How many children does Mary Carillo have?

Mary Carillo has two children, a son named Anthony and a daughter named Rachel.

Who is Mary Carillo's son?

Mary Carillo's son is Anthony, who was born in 1987. Carillo has publicly described him as an actor.

Who is Mary Carillo's daughter?

Mary Carillo's daughter is Rachel, who was born in 1991. Rachel has generally maintained a private life away from her mother's television career.

Who is the father of Mary Carillo's children?

Mary Carillo had her two children with her former husband, Bill Bowden, a tennis instructor.

Is Mary Carillo a grandmother?

Yes. Public WTA reporting has confirmed that her daughter Rachel has children. In 2025, Carillo said her daughter was pregnant with her third child.

How old are Mary Carillo's children?

Anthony was born in 1987 and Rachel in 1991. As of 2026, that makes Anthony about 39 and Rachel about 35.

Did Mary Carillo's children become tennis players?

There is no strong evidence that either child followed Mary Carillo into a professional tennis career. Carillo's son Anthony has instead been publicly described as an actor.

Why is Mary Carillo in the news in 2026?

Mary Carillo was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on August 29, 2026, in Newport, Rhode Island. She entered in the Contributor Category, recognizing her decades of influence as a broadcaster and journalist.
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Editorial note: I’ve kept the children's personal details limited to information supported by the WTA, USTA, International Tennis Hall of Fame and recent reputable reporting, rather than repeating less-verifiable family claims circulating on biography sites.