Swiss tennis sensation Belinda Bencic is making headlines once again, not just for her formidable talent on court, but for a remarkable comeback story that has seen her reach her first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2025. Currently ranked World No. 35, Bencic’s journey back to the elite level of professional tennis follows a significant personal milestone: the birth of her daughter, Bella, in April 2024.
Her path to the Wimbledon quarterfinals has been nothing short of impressive. After a first-round victory over Alycia Parks (6-0, 6-3), Bencic navigated a tough three-set match against Elsa Jacquemot (4-6, 6-1, 6-2). She continued her strong form by defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto (6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7)) and then secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a commanding win over 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova (7-6 (7-4), 6-4). This marks a career-best performance for Bencic at the All England Club, where she is now set to face 7th seed Mirra Andreeva, as reported by ESPN.
Bencic’s return to the WTA Tour in late 2024, just six months after giving birth, signaled her determination. She began her competitive play at lower-level ITF events in Hamburg and Luxembourg in October and November 2024, steadily building her match fitness. By December 2024, she had already made a significant leap, reaching the final of the WTA 125 Open Angers Arena Loire and re-entering the Top 500 at World No. 481 on December 9, 2024, according to WTA Tennis. The 2025 season has seen her momentum accelerate. After representing Switzerland at the United Cup and competing in Adelaide and the Australian Open (reaching the fourth round), Bencic claimed her first title since becoming a mother at the Abu Dhabi Open in February 2025. This victory propelled her 92 places up the rankings to World No. 65 on February 10, 2025. Her strong run to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells in March 2025 further solidified her return, pushing her back into the Top 50 at World No. 45 on March 17, 2025. Despite a brief setback with an arm injury that led to her withdrawal from the Italian Open and French Open, her current Wimbledon run demonstrates her full resurgence.
Born in Flawil, Switzerland, on March 10, 1997, Bencic’s tennis journey began at the tender age of two. She notably trained with Melanie Molitor, the mother and coach of Swiss tennis legend Martina Hingis, from age seven, as detailed on Wikipedia. A former junior world No. 1, Bencic won two junior Grand Slam singles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2013. Her professional breakthrough came early, reaching the US Open quarterfinals at just 17 in 2014, earning her the WTA Newcomer of the Year award. She secured her maiden WTA Tour titles in 2015, winning both the Eastbourne International and the prestigious Canadian Open, where she famously defeated four of the world’s top six players, including then-World No. 1 Serena Williams.
Bencic achieved her career-high ranking of World No. 4 in February 2020. After battling various injuries from 2016-2018, she made a spectacular return in 2019, winning two Premier 5 titles (Dubai, Moscow), reaching her first major semifinal at the US Open, and qualifying for the WTA Finals, earning her the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award. Her crowning achievement came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), where she won the gold medal in singles and a silver medal in women’s doubles. She also played a pivotal role in Switzerland’s Billie Jean King Cup victory in 2022 and won the Hopman Cup twice with Roger Federer (2018, 2019).
Known for her aggressive, all-court game, Bencic is often compared to Martina Hingis due to their shared Swiss-Slovak heritage and coaching lineage. Her ability to hit the ball early and redirect shots effectively, coupled with a powerful first serve, makes her a formidable opponent on any surface, though grass remains her stated favorite. Belinda Bencic’s journey is a testament to her resilience and unwavering dedication to the sport. Her current performance at Wimbledon 2025, following her return to the tour as a mother, adds another inspiring chapter to an already illustrious career, solidifying her status as one of tennis’s most compelling figures.
