🎾 Belinda Bencic: From maternity leave to world-class success

Belinda Bencic's journey reads like a movie script. In just a year and a half, the Swiss player has gone from being a new mother to a resurgent star of world tennis. Between emotion, perseverance, and remarkable achievements, the St. Gallen native is living a modern-day fairy tale on courts around the globe.

👶 From San Diego to the maternity ward

In September 2023, Bencic played her last match of the season in San Diego, while ranked 15th in the world. Two months later, she announced news far better than any title: her pregnancy. In April 2024, she gave birth to her daughter Bella and took several months off from the tour.

During this period of inactivity, her ranking naturally fell: at its lowest point, Belinda Bencic slipped to 1447th place in the world.

🔙 The big comeback begins in Hamburg

In October 2024, barely six months after giving birth, the Swiss champion made a discreet but determined comeback in a minor tournament in Hamburg. At the end of the year, she was still ranked 913th in the WTA rankings, before climbing to 421st at the start of 2025, boosted by several strong results.

🚀 From the Australian Open to Wimbledon: the return of a fighter

At the start of 2025, the Swiss player gradually regained her form. After reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open, she made a strong statement in Abu Dhabi, where she won the tournament, notably defeating defending champion Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. This victory propelled her to around 60th in the world rankings.

A few weeks later, Bencic confirmed his return to the highest level:

Quarter-final at Indian Wells, semi-final at Wimbledon, where she lost only to the eventual champion Iga Swiatek

🏆 Tokyo, the crowning achievement

The highlight of this incredible season came in Tokyo, where Belinda Bencic won her second title of the year and the 10th of her career. This success propelled her to the brink of the world's top 10, reaching 11th place in the WTA rankings.

💫 A champion mom, an inspirational role model

A year and a half after giving birth to her daughter Bella, Belinda Bencic has made one of the most impressive comebacks in modern women's tennis. Combining resilience and talent, the St. Gallen native proves that it's possible to juggle everything: motherhood, passion, and top-level performance.