Belinda Bencic’s “Mini Dream Come True”: First Title as a Mother
Belinda Bencic secured one of the most meaningful victories of her career on Saturday—not just for her performance on the court, but for the emotional moment that followed. Winning the Abu Dhabi Open became extra special as she was cheered on by her husband and nine-month-old daughter, Bella.
A Victory Beyond Tennis
Bencic, a 2021 Olympic gold medalist and former world No. 4, triumphed in a hard-fought 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win against American Ashlyn Krueger. It marked her ninth WTA title and her first as a mother—making her the first mom to win a WTA title since Elina Svitolina in May 2023.
However, the highlight wasn’t just lifting the trophy—it was sharing the moment with her daughter.
“It meant the world to me,” Bencic told CNN’s Patrick Snell. “I worked really hard to be here, and it’s a mini dream come true that she was with me to see this.”
Comeback with a Purpose
Bencic had a tough start, dropping the first set, but responded with aggressive tennis, breaking Krueger’s serve five times in the next two sets. After two hours and 23 minutes, she sealed the win and brought Bella onto the court for the trophy ceremony.
“It was such a special moment,” she said. “In the third set, my husband and Bella were cheering from courtside, and I felt an extra boost of energy.”
This tournament was only her fourth since giving birth in April 2023. Under the protected ranking system, she has been able to compete based on her pre-maternity ranking. Currently ranked No. 157, she is now the third-lowest-ranked player ever to win a WTA 500 event.
A Grueling Journey Back
Despite her impressive return, Bencic admitted that the road back was anything but easy.
“My first run after giving birth—maybe eight or 10 weeks later—was crazy,” she recalled. “I couldn’t run. I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is going to be tough.’”
But persistence paid off. “Slowly, I built back up. Then suddenly, muscle memory kicked in, and my body was like, ‘Okay, I know what we’re doing now.’ From then on, it got smoother.”
Thriving as a Tennis Mom
Bencic now joins an inspiring group of mothers competing at the highest level, including Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, and Angelique Kerber.
Balancing motherhood and professional tennis has been made easier with the support of her husband, Martin Hromkovič—who is also her fitness coach. Traveling as a family is a new adventure, with their next stop in Dubai, followed by a series of tournaments in the U.S.
“You can’t describe the love you feel until you have children,” Bencic shared. “We’re very blessed. Bella is a happy baby—she doesn’t cry much, and right now, it’s easy to travel with her.”
A New Perspective on Tennis
Once ranked as low as No. 1,213 in late 2023, Bencic’s Abu Dhabi title is set to propel her back into the top 100.
More than just climbing the rankings, she now approaches tennis with a fresh mindset.
“A bad day at the office stays on the court,” she said. “When I’m off the court, I have so many other things to focus on. If I lose, it’s not terrible—we just have a nice day together as a family.”
With her talent, resilience, and support system, Bencic is proving that motherhood and elite tennis can go hand in hand—and she’s just getting started.
