Belinda Bencic is taking baby steps back into professional tennis! After nearly a year away from the court, she’s ready to return. Following her pregnancy announcement with partner Martin Hromkovic, the couple welcomed their daughter, Bella, in April 2024. Now, after some much-needed rest, the Swiss star is gearing up to pick up her racket once more. And she’s doing it in style!

Bencic made her competitive comeback at the ITF W75 Hamburg event on October 28. It was her first match since last September’s Cymbiotika San Diego Open. The 27-year-old is now excited to “test her level” as she joins the Swiss team for the Billie Jean King Cup. The Swiss team which includes Jill Teichmann, Simona Walters, Viktorija Golubic, Celine Naef, and captain Heinz Guenthardt, didn’t qualify for the finals this year after a tough loss to Poland.

The Swiss team faced multiple defeats in both singles and doubles in this year’s BJK Cup. However, they are set to compete in the playoffs against Serbia on November 15-16. Bencic shared her excitement on Instagram after attending the tournament’s inaugural event. She posted a stylish photo of the team in sleek black suits with the caption, “Back in Black 🖤 #BJKCup #Biel @billiejeankingcup,” as they prepare for their upcoming showdown.

In 2022, Bencic helped lead Switzerland to victory in the Billie Jean King Cup against Australia. Although she might be a bit rusty now, her past achievements, like her career-high No. 4 ranking and Olympic gold medal in 2020, show she knows how to win. So is she going to bring that winning energy back to the court?

Bencic opens up about her journey back to the court ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs

On November 13, Belinda Bencic and the Swiss Team spoke to Blue News about her return to the sport after her maternity leave. With her daughter Bella by her side, she’s the center of attention as the team gears up for the Billie Jean King Cup play-off against Serbia. Her teammate Celine Naef who’s seeing the player back after two years at this tournament, said, “The thought that Belinda is now a mother is very special. You almost have to pinch yourself a little.” Even their captain, Heinz Gunthardt, echoed this sentiment, expressing his joy, “Now our world champion team is complete again.”

The Swiss champ made headlines with her impressive comeback at smaller ITF tournaments in Hamburg and Luxembourg, winning three out of four matches. However, she withdrew from the quarter-finals in Luxembourg after a tough match. She claimed she was prioritizing her health, “I was feeling my muscles a bit and just didn’t want to take any risks,” she explained.

But now, being back in Biel, she’s fully committed to training and readying herself for the upcoming challenges. It won’t be easy especially due to having gone through postpartum in April this year, but Gunthardt praised Bencic’s performance.

He said, “Tennis is like a mother tongue for her.” Saying that, as she also has the support of her own mother, it looks like Bencic is finding a balance between family life and tennis. She emphasizes that while she’s ready to step out onto the court and compete, “Bella is always priority number one,” she added, “I think we did really well and both felt comfortable.”

As the Swiss team prepares for their match against Serbia, Bencic feels optimistic about her return and the team’s strong form. “We give Heinz the agony of choice,” she joked about the competition for spots on the team. Only the match on Friday will reveal the fate of the Swiss Team in the Billie Jean King Cup for next year. Do you think Belinda Bencic will be able to rise to the challenge after her hiatus? Share your thoughts in the comments below!