Finding a partner who truly understands your world and stands by you through its ups and downs is a dream for many. For Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic, it’s a beautiful reality. Beside her is her boyfriend and biggest supporter, Martin Hromkovic. But he isn’t just any partner; he is a pillar of strength for Bencic both on and off the court; quite literally. He is her strength and conditioning coach.

Hromkovic got his master’s degree from FTVS.UK and has been professionally working with Bencic for quite some time. But did you know that Hromkovic himself hails from an athletic background?

Belinda Bencic’s Slovakian boyfriend built a successful professional football career over 17 years. Born on May 27, 1982, he represented several famous teams during his career like the FK Inter Bratislava, OFC Russel Gabčíkovo, FK Slovan Duslo Šaľa, FC Družstevník Báč, MFK Vítkovice, FC Eilenburg, and ŠK Senec. But in 2019, he quit the sport and donned a new cap as a fitness coach owing to his dedication to sports.

However, the couple’s romantic journey began in November 2018 and they haven’t looked back since then. Bencic was 21 in 2018 when she began dating Hromkovic, who is fifteen years her senior. Talking about their connection, the tennis star stated back then:

“It came a little unexpected, but it’s an ideal situation. When I work on fitness in Slovakia, we can be together. As a tennis professional, relationships are so difficult. I do not see my best friend until half a year later. You never see another tennis player. A man waiting at home – no chance! Martin wants the best for me for my private life and sport. He often travels, I’m very grateful for his support!

“Fortunately, we can separate private and professional life well. When I work, I really see him as a coach. I hope it stays that way. For him, the job is done when I’m fit. Martin was an athlete himself, a footballer. So he understands well when I’m nervous or tense.”

Bencic and Hromkovic took their relationship to the next level when the tennis star took to her Instagram account to announce her pregnancy in November 2023. The couple was seen holding a pair of baby shoes, to which Bencic captioned, “Expecting our little miracle soon! We can’t wait to meet you.”

Eventually, in April 2024, they welcomed their baby daughter Bella into the world and have been sharing some adorable moments since then.

In October 2024, Bencic took to her Instagram story to share a picture of the father-daughter bond with Hromkovic holding Bella in his arms.

Hromkovic is not just Bencic’s romantic partner but also her biggest motivator. Just six months after Bella’s birth, Bencic decided to return to the tennis courts, and helping her in the process was her boyfriend. The preparations for her comeback started two months after their daughter was born with a little exercise and movement, and intensified over the days.

Speaking about the same, Bencic revealed, “Martin learned a lot about the new topic, how to start, with pelvic floor exercises, abdominal and back exercises, to progress step by step.” And it is probably for this reason that the star player has never failed to express her admiration for Martin Hromkovic. “My partner is incredible, he’s doing a really great job, We’re a good team,” she revealed about their bond. And perhaps thanks to his dedication, tennis-wise, Belinda Bencic does not seem to face much struggles after her comeback as a mother.

When Belinda Bencic dished out an honest take about her tennis comeback…

For a player to return to the court just six months after giving birth is no small task. Speaking about the same to the media at the United Cup in December 2024, Bencic revealed that her best tennis is yet to come. One thing is sure from her words: she is focused on improving every day.

Speaking at the venue, Bencic said, “Well, I’m definitely improving every day. So that’s very motivating for me to see improvement. I think my tennis is there. I think that’s like riding a bike. I don’t think that you lose that.”

Speaking about the most challenging aspect of her comeback after becoming a mother, she revealed, “I think we’ve adapted really good. That’s definitely one thing that Bella taught us in the last eight months, to be very spontaneous and not to be, like, not to plan everything, because she’s gonna do it her way anyway, and she doesn’t really have a routine yet. It’s always about adapting, and problem-solving once the problem is there and not, like, overthinking everything.”

“So yeah, I’ve also talked to a lot of moms on the tour, but I’ve talked to them more like friends and moms instead of athletes. I mean, they were able to give me a lot of tips, for sure. It’s been really inspiring to see, you know, many other moms, you know, being able to come back, also physically, also tennis-wise, you know, they came back to the same level.”

And these discussions with several mothers on the tour led Bencic and Hromkovic to the decision that they were okay with having a baby in the middle of Bencic’s tennis career. They knew it would be possible to make a comeback.