In a stunning display of resilience and skill, former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic made a triumphant return to the WTA Tour, leading Switzerland to a thrilling 2-1 victory over France in the United Cup mixed team tournament. The 27-year-old, who gave birth to her daughter Bella in April, showed no signs of rust as she dominated Chloe Paquet 6-3, 6-1 in her first elite-level match since becoming a mother.
Bencic’s commanding performance set the tone for Switzerland, but France refused to go down without a fight. Ugo Humbert leveled the tie at 1-1 with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win over Dominic Stricker, battling back from a 2-5 deficit in the second set to force a decisive mixed doubles rubber.
Bencic and Stricker Seal the Deal
With the pressure mounting, Bencic and Stricker rose to the occasion, defeating Elixane Lechemia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-1, 7-6 (4) to clinch the tie for Switzerland. The Olympic gold medalist’s poise and experience shone through as she guided her young partner to victory.
Exceeding Expectations
Speaking after the match, Bencic expressed her surprise at how quickly she has regained her top form since returning to competition:
“The whole comeback went much faster than I anticipated and expected. It’s great. I didn’t rush things. I was super careful with starting again. I didn’t really want to put time pressure on my comeback. I just wanted to see how it goes every day.”
– Belinda Bencic
The Swiss star, who will compete in the Australian Open with a protected ranking, emphasized the importance of playing competitive matches over endless practice sessions:
“I think I was ready. There’s no point in practicing more. It’s boring, right? It’s better to play competitive matches.”
– Belinda Bencic
A Day of Upsets and Nail-Biters
Elsewhere in the United Cup, Argentina stunned home favorites Australia 2-1 in Group F. Nadia Podoroska kicked things off with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Olivia Gadecki before Alex De Minaur leveled the tie with a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Maria Lourdes Carle and Etcheverry then sealed the upset, downing Ellen Perez and Matt Ebden 6-2, 6-4 in the mixed doubles.
In Group A, Canada edged past Croatia 2-1 thanks to the heroics of Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Fernandez got the ball rolling with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Donna Vekic before Borna Coric leveled the tie, coming from a set down to beat Auger-Aliassime 0-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Canadian duo regrouped in the mixed doubles, defeating Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the tie.
Greece also emerged victorious in a tightly-contested Group C encounter against Spain. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro put the Spaniards ahead with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Maria Sakkari, but Stefanos Tsitsipas responded with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Pablo Carreno Busta. Sakkari and Tsitsipas then combined forces to edge Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Sergio Martos Gornes 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 in a thrilling mixed doubles decider.
A Tournament of Thrills and Comebacks
As the United Cup continues to unfold, fans are being treated to a spectacle of world-class tennis, nail-biting finishes, and inspiring comebacks. Belinda Bencic’s triumphant return to the WTA Tour after embracing motherhood serves as a testament to the unwavering spirit and determination of these elite athletes.
With the Australian Open just around the corner, the United Cup provides a perfect platform for players to fine-tune their games and gain valuable match experience ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam. As the tournament progresses, expect more thrills, upsets, and unforgettable moments from the brightest stars in the world of tennis.
