Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic has made a remarkable comeback to the tennis circuit, reaching her first tour-level semifinal since April 2023. Bencic, who returned to professional tennis after giving birth to her daughter Bella, defeated Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
Bencic admitted to having concerns about how much tennis had changed during her absence. “I was really worried that the speed of the ball and the speed of how the girls are serving now, and returning and everything, would be maybe a bit too much, or a little bit too early for me,” she said. However, her fears were unfounded as she quickly re-established herself as a top contender.
Her victory over Vondrousova marks a significant milestone in her comeback journey. Bencic has steadily worked her way back up the rankings, reaching the final of the Limoges WTA 125 in December and the fourth round of the Australian Open in January. She is now guaranteed to be inside the Top 120.
Bencic’s next challenge will be the winner of the match between top seed Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur. Her journey back to the top has been inspiring, and her performance in Abu Dhabi has shown that she is a force to be reckoned with.