Belinda Bencic’s triumph at Abu Dhabi open: A victory fueled by family and a mother’s resilience

Belinda Bencic secured one of the most unforgettable victories of her career on Saturday, not due to the action on the court, but because of the emotional support she received from her family in the stands.

Her win at the Abu Dhabi Open was made even more special by the presence of her husband and nine-month-old daughter, Bella, cheering her on. For Bencic, this victory felt like a dream come true as she had worked tirelessly to get to where she is now and had the added joy of sharing the moment with her daughter.

The 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 triumph over American Ashlyn Krueger marked Bencic's ninth WTA title, and her first as a mother. She also became the first mother to win a WTA title since Elina Svitolina in May 2023.

After losing a tight first set, Bencic responded in impressive fashion, stepping up her aggression and breaking Krueger’s serve five times in the following two sets. The victory was sealed in 2 hours and 23 minutes, and Bencic celebrated by carrying Bella onto the court during the trophy ceremony.

Bencic’s achievement came just a few months after returning to competition following the birth of her daughter in April. She has benefited from the WTA’s protected ranking system, which allows her to compete in certain tournaments based on her pre-maternity ranking. Currently ranked No. 157 in the world, Bencic is the third-lowest-ranked player to win a WTA 500 event.

Despite her rapid return to form, Bencic admitted that the road back to competitive tennis was challenging. After giving birth, she struggled physically at first, unable to run and feeling the difficulty of getting back into shape. However, as time passed, her body gradually regained its rhythm, and the transition became smoother.

Bencic joins a growing number of mothers in professional tennis, following in the footsteps of former Grand Slam champions like Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, and Angelique Kerber.

She has been supported by her husband, Martin Hromkovič, who also serves as her fitness coach. Together with Bella, the family is adjusting to life on the road as they travel to tournaments around the world, with the next stop being Dubai, followed by a series of events in the United States.

Bencic, who was once ranked as low as No. 1,213 last year, is poised to climb back into the top 100 with this win.

The joy of motherhood has allowed her to separate her personal life from the pressures of tennis, helping her maintain perspective and keep a sense of balance between her career and family life. For her, even on the toughest days, the love for her family makes everything worthwhile.