When Belinda Bencic gave birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024, few imagined they would see her back at the highest level. Two years later, the Swiss player is ranked twelfth in the world, has won ten career titles, and travels with her daughter on tour as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
A return that defies statistics
The numbers speak for themselves. In 2025, Bencic won two titles and was named WTA Comeback Player of the Year. In 2026, the progression has accelerated dramatically. Her season record stands at fourteen wins against four losses, a ratio many childless players would struggle to achieve.
The most striking episode remains the United Cup in January. Bencic compiled a nine-one record in singles and mixed doubles, carrying Switzerland to the final. Her run included a singles victory over Iga Swiatek, then ranked second, a result that shifted her confidence for the rest of the season. She was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament despite Switzerland's loss in the final to Poland.
Back in the Top 10
In February 2026, Bencic crossed a symbolic threshold by re-entering the Top 10, becoming the first mother to achieve that ranking since 2019. This performance is far from anecdotal. It reflects remarkable consistency on hard courts, with quarterfinals at the Australian Open and regular victories against Top 20 opponents.
It was in Australia that Bencic truly made her mark early in the season. The title won there, capped by a three-set comeback final victory over Swiatek (3-6 6-0 6-3), confirmed the Swiss player was not there to participate but to win. She also added a mixed doubles title at Indian Wells alongside Flavio Cobolli.
Mother on tour
What makes this comeback unique is how Bencic manages the dual role. Bella travels with her on tour, accompanied by husband Martin Hromkovic whom she married in April 2024. The logistical challenge is constant, approached with the pragmatism that defines Bencic.
In Charleston this week, where she faces Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, Bencic has discussed this atypical routine with disarming honesty. The green clay suits her complete game, but it is above all her mental serenity that impresses opponents. Playing for her daughter rather than for rankings seems to have unlocked something in the Swiss player's game.
A model for women's tennis
Bencic's return is part of a broader movement. The WTA has implemented new maternity policies protecting players' rankings during leave and facilitating their return. Bencic has become the inadvertent ambassador of these reforms, proving through results that a high-level career and motherhood are not incompatible.
At 29, with ten titles, an Olympic gold medal, and now the status of the tour's highest-performing mother-player, Bencic is writing a chapter that extends far beyond sport. The clay season ahead could offer her the opportunity to aim even higher, with Roland-Garros on the horizon.
