Swiss Mum Bencic Reaches Wimbledon Semi-Finals, Nears Top 20 Ranking

Belinda Bencic has made a remarkable return to tennis after a 13-month break following the birth of her daughter in April 2024, reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final by defeating 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva in two tight tiebreak sets. Bencic, currently ranked No. 35 and soon to be back in the top 20, has become the first mother to reach a Wimbledon semi-final since Evonne Goolagong Cawley 45 years ago and the first Swiss woman to do so since Martina Hingis in 1998. She saved crucial break points and maintained composure in high-pressure moments, earning praise for her tactical preparation and mental strength. Bencic will face five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, with Swiatek having comfortably advanced by beating Liudmila Samsonova. Bencic's journey symbolizes a significant milestone for mothers in professional tennis, as she balances motherhood and elite competition while creating new memories on the tour with her daughter. This Wimbledon run is her second Grand Slam semi-final appearance, the first being the 2019 US Open, and marks a breakthrough after multiple fourth-round exits at Wimbledon in previous years.