Sport has always loved a comeback story, but Belinda Bencic’s run to the Wimbledon semi-finals is something else entirely. It’s a story that stretches beyond rankings and titles, into the raw, human journey of an athlete who became a mother and then found her way back to the top of the sport she loves.
Just over a year ago, Bencic was in a very different place. In April 2024, she gave birth to her daughter Bella, stepping away from the daily grind of the WTA Tour. For some players, such a break might signal the slow winding down of a career. For Bencic, it lit a new fire.
She returned to competition barely six months later, ranked outside the top 450. Her comeback started quietly at the United Cup, where few gave her a second glance. She looked like a player searching for rhythm, searching for her place in a sport that had moved on in her absence. But behind the scenes, Bencic was putting in the work, balancing sleepless nights with relentless training sessions.
Fast forward to July 2025, and the Swiss star has stunned the tennis world. On Wednesday afternoon, she stepped onto the hallowed grass of Centre Court and defeated World No. 7 Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3), 7-6(2), booking her spot in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time in her career.
It wasn’t easy. Andreeva, one of the brightest young talents on the WTA Tour, threw everything at Bencic. Aggressive groundstrokes, fearless baseline play, and bursts of energy that only a teenager can summon. But Bencic had something greater "experience". Twice she weathered the storm to edge through in tiebreaks, showing composure when it mattered most.
This Wimbledon run hasn’t been about flawless tennis. It’s been about grit, adaptability, and belief. Along the way, Bencic has toppled seeded players and reminded the world of her class. She has always had the game, her Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2021 proved that. But what this comeback has shown is her heart.
There’s something poetic about her journey. Tennis, a sport often obsessed with youth, has seen one of its returning mothers lead the way. Bencic is now the last remaining mother in the women’s draw, carrying the hopes of many who see her story as something bigger than sport.
Up next is her biggest test yet: a semi-final clash against either World No. 1 Iga Świątek or the resurgent Amanda Anisimova. Both will pose different challenges, but after what Bencic has already overcome, nothing will faze her.
Win or lose, Belinda Bencic has already won in so many ways. She’s redefined what it means to return, what it means to balance motherhood and elite sport, and what it means to never give up on a dream.
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