Belinda Bencic has always been a fighter. But this time, she wasn’t just battling opponents on the court—she was proving that motherhood and professional tennis can go hand in hand. The Swiss tennis player welcomed her baby, Bella, with her husband and fitness coach, Martin Hromkovic, in April 2024. Just when Bella was 10 months old, the super mom fought back from a set down to defeat American Ashlyn Krueger in the final, lifting the WTA 500 trophy in Abu Dhabi. Her daughter was there to witness it all, cradled in Bencic’s arms during the trophy ceremony. A moment to remember. And now she’s celebrating a landmark victory for tennis moms everywhere.

The WTA rolled out its groundbreaking maternity policy, offering 12 months of paid maternity leave for eligible players. The initiative also includes two months of leave for those becoming parents through surrogacy, partner pregnancy, or adoption. And that’s not all—grants for fertility treatments like egg freezing and IVF are now part of the package. The program, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is the first of its kind in professional sports.

More than 320 players qualify for paid leave, with all receiving the same payout, regardless of ranking. If they choose not to return to the sport, they won’t have to repay any of the money. That’s a game-changer. And the cherry on top: it was the same day the Swiss tennis player won her first match at Indian Wells. So, what does tennis mom Bencic think of this?

After her first-round win at Indian Wells, she shared her thoughts in the post-match interview.“Well, of course, I think it’s a great thing. It’s absolutely giving players the chance to not have to make such a hard decision.” She further continued, highlighting the ways this unprecedented move would impact moms in tennis – and hopefully other sports too.

Bencic reflected, “I think it makes their decision a little bit easier if they are looking for having a family and didn’t have to decide so much if it’s worth it. Especially the lower-ranked players, I think it’s important for them to have a guaranteed income so they don’t have to worry about money when they’re out for a year and a half and not stress about things. So I think it’s a great thing. Also, you know, that tennis is the first sport to do it for female athletes, so I hope it paves the way for other sports, as well.”

Its a well-deserved moment of recognition for the sport and for the women who make it great. But the former World No.4’s return wasn’t just about policies—it was about defying expectations. Many doubted whether she could come back at the same level, questioning if motherhood would slow her down. Belinda Bencic, however, had other ideas.

Belinda Bencic opens up on proving doubters wrong

On the Tennis Insider Club podcast, Belinda Bencic opened up about the skepticism she faced. “When I started my comeback, most people were like, ‘Oh, for sure, it’s not possible,’ you know? So, I always feel like people change their minds so quickly. And it’s fun for me to be like, ‘Oh, okay, you believe in me now, huh?’” she said to host Caroline Garcia.

“It’s very classic. I had so many people saying: ‘Why she did this decision now in the middle of her career? It’s not possible to be back at the same level.’ But now (after Abu Dhabi) they say: ‘Yeah, she can win the Grand Slam for sure.’ I’m like, you changed your mind in one week!” she laughed.

It’s a testament to her resilience. The former world No. 4 and Olympic gold medalist never doubted herself. The Swiss tennis star further stated, “I also feel like all the work I did in my career, in my childhood, I don’t want to just throw it away. I just want to take out the most when I can out of my career and also like see that it’s possible to have both.”

Right now, the 27-year-old tennis player has won 14 of her 18 matches this season and sits firmly inside the top 60 in the world. The goal? Keep climbing and be seeded in major tournaments again. Next up, Belinda Bencic faces American Amanda Anisimova in the second round of Indian Wells. Another step forward. With her determination and the WTA’s new policy paving the way, could we see more mothers dominating the tour?