A year ago, Belinda Bencic was ranked 421st in the world following an 11-month maternity break during which she welcomed her daughter, Bella. Today, the former Olympic champion and Swiss tennis star has climbed back into the WTA top 10, setting her sights on glory at the 2026 Australian Open.

Bencic is now the first woman to re-enter the top 10 in singles after giving birth since Serena Williams did so in 2019, 17 months after having daughter Olympia. Her meteoric rise back up the rankings has inspired fans worldwide and marks one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent women’s tennis history.

A Stellar Comeback After Motherhood

When Bencic returned from maternity leave in October 2024, she had dropped to 1,213th in the world rankings. However, a series of impressive performances quickly restored her standing:

• Australian Open 2025: Reached the fourth round, signaling her return to competitive form.
• Abu Dhabi Open 2025: Captured the title, celebrating her win while holding daughter Bella in one arm and the trophy in the other.
• Wimbledon 2025: Reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual champion Iga Swiatek, which helped Bencic climb back into the top 20.
• Pan Pacific Open 2025: Clinched her second title of the year, cementing her return among the elite.

Throughout this period, Bencic emphasized the importance of balancing motherhood with her tennis career, stating:

“I see myself as a mum first, and then a tennis player. My priorities are clearly with my family.”

United Cup Success Boosts Confidence

Bencic’s form was further bolstered by her performance in the United Cup at the start of 2026. After a disappointing group stage in 2025, she produced an outstanding run this year, winning all five of her singles matches, including victories over seventh-ranked Jasmine Paolini and world number two Iga Swiatek.

Switzerland reached the final of the team event for the first time, though Poland ultimately claimed the trophy. During the tournament, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka famously wore a T-shirt featuring Bencic’s image with the words “Belinda’s World”, praising her for both her on-court performance and her remarkable comeback:

“We all know we’re living in Belinda’s world. Belinda, thank you for what you’re doing on the court. Thank you for what you’re doing off the court. You still came back so quick, so fast to that high level. This is so impressive to watch.”

Bencic called the United Cup a “big confidence booster” heading into the Australian Open, where she has never progressed past the fourth round.

Career Highlights

• Top 10 debut: 2016 at age 18, becoming the first teenager in the top 10 since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009.
• Olympic Gold: Won the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeating Marketa Vondrousova in the final.
• WTA Titles: Multiple titles in 2022 and 2023, demonstrating consistent elite-level performance.
• Maternity Break: Took 11 months off in 2024, returning to competitive play in October of the same year.

Looking Ahead to the Australian Open 2026

Bencic is set to compete at Melbourne Park from 18 January to 1 February, with live coverage available across BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, BBC Sounds, and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. Her return to top form makes her a strong contender, and fans will be watching closely to see if she can make a deep run at the Australian Open for the first time in her career.

“Also super happy to be in the top 10 now. I think it’s been a huge goal, maybe a huge ride after the whole comeback, to come back and prove this to myself, that it’s possible. We keep on going,” Bencic said.

With victories over Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in the past 12 months, and a strong team environment in Switzerland, Belinda Bencic enters the Australian Open as one of the most inspiring stories in modern tennis.