Bencic maintains her ambition: "I want to return to the elite"

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Last week, we enjoyed the return of Belinda Bencic to the circuit. The Swiss player, who became a mother for the first time at 27 years old last April, wasted no time in getting back on court and embarking on the second phase of her career. Her participation in the W75 Hamburg was brief, with a first-round victory over Julia Avdeeva (6-3, 6-1) followed by a loss to Anastasia Kulikova (6-3, 6-4). Beyond the results, the important thing was to feel like a player again, slowly recognizing the areas where she needs to improve to climb back to where she belongs. In an interview with 24 portal, the native of Flawil explains how her life has changed since then.

“We enjoy every second with Bella, she is a very happy baby, luckily she lets me sleep at night, she even comes with us to the court and training sessions. This helps me focus entirely on my discipline, on my work,” says the former world No. 4, delighted to have taken the most important step of her life without ever closing the door on her professional career.

“At home, we manage to find our rhythm, now it's all about adjusting everything to the WTA calendar. This is the first time we are flying with the baby, the first time we won't have the nanny with us or her grandmothers to take on that role. We are all very motivated for these tournaments, a feeling that greatly contributes at home; we are looking forward to traveling as a family,” adds Bencic, who had been away for 13 months, a total of 414 days without competing until she stepped onto the central court of the W75 Hamburg this week.

What hasn’t changed is her competitive spirit, something that won’t be altered by Bella's arrival on April 23, 2024. However, it would be foolish to deny that the journey back to the elite won't happen overnight. “I'm still not aiming for perfection, but I do need some practice to see exactly where my weaknesses lie. The fact that my partner is my physical trainer works in my favor; it helped me learn things during pregnancy, such as pelvic floor rehabilitation after childbirth. I had to listen to my body a lot to progress step by step,” says the 27-year-old.

Now her roadmap points to another W75, this time in Petange (Luxembourg), where the draw has paired her with a player even more experienced than her: Aravane Rezai. Meanwhile, the Swiss player’s mind is set on aiming as high as possible in the medium term. “I would like to always be part of the world elite... and honestly, I believe it's feasible, even with a baby. This new phase will also help me gain a different perspective on life, to see things a bit more relaxed. Tennis is my profession, I still enjoy it, I want to give my best on the court, but there is more to life,” she pointed out emphatically.

A LONG LIST OF EXAMPLES

Fortunately, in 2024, we have several examples that Bencic can draw upon to trust that this process is more than viable. Dozens of women who chose to be young mothers, temporarily set aside professional tennis, and then picked up a racquet again with their little ones watching from the stands. By age and enthusiasm, Belinda has more than enough cases to join a long list of heroines that have completely changed the perspective held two decades ago.

“Their advice has inspired me greatly; they have all shown me that it's possible to reconcile the personal aspect with the professional one. Right now, there are millions of mothers who have to manage their work while being a mother, with several children to take care of, so it's a big challenge to face,” concludes the Swiss while thinking of women like Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Tatjana Maria, or Victoria Azarenka, to name a few.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bencic mantiene su ambición: "Quiero volver a la élite"