Belinda Bencic is making an exciting comeback to tennis after her maternity leave, which she concluded in October 2024. The 27-year-old Swiss star is eager to reestablish herself as a player to watch this season. Although her debut at the Adelaide International didn’t go as planned, she has made strides at the Australian Open, advancing to the third round. With a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 2020 and an Olympic gold medal from 2021 under her belt, Bencic is not just focused on her performance but also cherishing the joys of motherhood.

The joyous announcement came via an Instagram post from her longtime boyfriend and fitness coach, Martin Hromkovic, revealing that Bella was born on April 23, 2024. In the heartfelt snapshot, Bencic cradles her newborn, captioned: “Our love Bella,” celebrating this new chapter in their lives. The news was met with enthusiastic congratulations from fellow players, including Ons Jabeur and Jelena Ostapenko, who welcomed her to “the mom’s club,” which Wickmayer described as “the best club in the world by far.”

Bencic’s journey into motherhood has been a transformative experience. Since announcing her pregnancy in November 2023, she has taken a break from the competitive tennis circuit. Before her maternity leave, she had a successful season, winning two titles and reaching the fourth rounds at both Wimbledon and the US Open. Now, as she prepares for her return to professional tennis, Bencic is focused on balancing her responsibilities as a mother with her athletic ambitions.

As of January 2025, Bella is nine months old. Bencic has shared how much she enjoys having Bella accompany her on tennis tours. She expressed excitement about their travels together, noting that flying with Bella was a smooth experience. The young family is currently in Australia for the Australian Open preparations, where Bencic aims to make a strong comeback after over a year away from the sport.

Reflecting on her new role as a mother, Bencic has embraced the changes in her life. She finds joy in every moment spent with Bella and appreciates the love that motherhood brings. As she prepared to comeback at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and other tournaments ahead, Bencic was optimistic about her future in tennis.

Speaking to Swiss press in October, she said, “It was clear that I would come back after that [her pregnancy]. I’m 27, I feel good, I still have a few good years ahead of me on the tour. I’m very happy with the way we’re doing things. The goal for coming back is still the Billie Jean King Cup in November. Playing tennis is like riding a bike, you don’t forget it – but I have to get even fitter. I’m also still breastfeeding. You have to take that into account. Martin is adapting my fitness plan accordingly. My body feels good.” Following her comeback, she kicked off a fresh start for 2025. Her first warm-up at the Adelaide International ended early in the Round of 16, but she’s made better strides at the Australian Open.

How is new mom Belinda facing the 2025 season so far?

Belinda Bencic’s journey in Adelaide ended with a tough three-set match against Liudmila Samsonova, Bencic kept her spirits high as she prepared for her first Grand Slam of the season. In a thrilling first-round match at the Australian Open, she faced off against childhood rival and No. 16 seed Jelena Ostapenko, emerging victorious with a score of 6-3, 7-6(6). This win marked her first victory over a Top 30 opponent since defeating Petra Kvitova in Montreal back in 2023.

Continuing her momentum, Bencic secured another win against Suzan Lamens, finishing with a decisive 6-1, 7-6(3) on Wednesday. She now looks forward to facing former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the next round. Their head-to-head record stands at 3-2 in favor of Bencic, but Osaka claimed victory in their most recent encounter during the three-set semifinals at the Miami Open in 2022.

Despite not being seeded, both players bring impressive credentials to the court. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion, while Bencic is an Olympic gold medalist. They are also both new mothers striving to reclaim their former glory. As anticipation builds for their clash later today, the big question is: could Bencic pull off a surprise upset against fellow mom Osaka? Or will the Japanese play triumph over Bencic? Share your thoughts in the comments below!