Belinda Bencic Advances to Wimbledon Quarterfinals After Motherhood

Belinda Bencic, the last remaining mother in the women’s singles draw at Wimbledon, has made history by advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time, achieving this milestone at the age of 28. Bencic, who returned to professional tennis less than a year after giving birth to her daughter Bella, defeated the powerful Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4 on July 8, 2025. This victory marks a significant achievement for Bencic, as it is her first Grand Slam quarterfinal outside of the US Open, a tournament where she previously enjoyed notable success.

Bencic's journey to the quarterfinals has been characterized by a remarkable comeback, having taken a break from professional tennis for 13 months after her daughter's birth in April 2024. Upon her return, she initially competed at lower ITF events to regain her form and confidence, ultimately re-entering the professional circuit in 2025. In her first two tournaments of this year, she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and secured a title at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi as a wildcard, showcasing her impressive skills and determination.

"I always felt like I’m putting almost too much pressure on myself because I love to be here so much. I really want to do so well here," Bencic stated after her victory, emphasizing her passion for the tournament. With this win, she has trimmed her world ranking to 35th, reflecting her rapid ascent after motherhood.

The Wimbledon quarterfinal lineup features a competitive field, including multiple Grand Slam champions such as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, along with rising stars like Mirra Andreeva. Bencic’s experience on grass courts is noteworthy; she has achieved 50 tour-level match wins on this surface, the highest among this year’s quarterfinalists, and boasts a remarkable winning percentage nearing 70%.

Bencic's path to the quarterfinals included overcoming a challenging match against Alexandrova, who had previously defeated her decisively in Bad Homburg just weeks prior. "I’m happy I finally got through today from the fourth round; I always got stuck in the fourth round," she remarked, highlighting her satisfaction with her performance.

The significance of Bencic’s achievement extends beyond personal milestones; she is part of a broader narrative regarding mothers in professional sports. Notably, no mother has won a Grand Slam singles title since Kim Clijsters in 2009, and the last woman to claim the Wimbledon title while being a mother was Evonne Goolagong 45 years ago. As the tournament progresses, Bencic embodies the hopes of many as she strives to rewrite history.

As she prepares for her upcoming match against Andreeva, Bencic reflects on her journey: "I think it's just really a result of the work we put in and also the mindset that I have now. I want to do the best." With her tenacity and dedication, Bencic is not only a formidable competitor but also an inspiring figure for athletes balancing motherhood with professional aspirations. The world will be watching as she continues her quest at Wimbledon, where her performance could pave the way for future generations of athlete-mothers to achieve their dreams in sports.