Bencic, mother and tennis player at the same time: "You have to juggle"

Fernando Murciego | 8 Jul 2025 | 09.00

Belinda Bencic explains how she juggles being a mother and a tennis player. Source: Getty

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The career of Belinda Bencic threatens to give us her best installments at 28 years old and after becoming a mother. The Swiss always had it clear, she wanted to start a family and then return to the circuit, a plan she is following to the letter. Now destiny has gifted her with her best result at Wimbledon, her first quarterfinals in London, confirming that she maintains the same hunger as ever. Before facing Mirra Andreeva in a beautiful duel, the Swiss player made fresh statements about her form and new reality on the tour.

Her best result at Wimbledon

"I am very happy, I finally managed to take the next step to the quarterfinals, so I also feel a bit of relief. I thought it was a very good match out there, although there are always nerves when it comes to closing it, but I am happy with how everything ended. I had just faced her in the last tournament, in Bad Homburg, but I think this time I did things much better. That's what ended up making the difference."

The feeling of winning the match

"At that moment, what you feel is how all the stress disappears, your body reacts that way, exhaling strongly, knowing that you no longer need to worry about the next point. More or less, the feeling is that of a job well done. Relief is the greatest emotion you feel at that moment, but also joy after so much struggle, the heart rate is very high. It's hard to describe or stick to just one emotion, it's crazy everything that goes through your mind."

A message to all mothers

"It’s difficult to give advice, each story is unique to the person. What is certain is that you have to be ready, convinced of what you are going to do. It makes no sense to try to force it just because you're going back to work, so you must be fully prepared to not do everything perfectly. Sometimes there are things you have to let go of when you are a mother, always maintaining the commitment, but letting go of some things. I am very lucky to have the support of my whole family, especially from my husband. Nor do I want to say that only mothers juggle in this situation, also fathers in general. I wanted to make that clear."

Imminent results

"The truth is that I am surprised, I am happy about it, although I try not to think about it too much. I felt great in every training session, that's what made me come back earlier than expected, even earlier than I thought myself. I am also surprised at how quickly the results are coming, but it’s all a product of the work we did, that's where my current mindset comes from. Today I do everything in my power to win, I am fighting with all I have on the court, I still have a lot of desire to win. Yes, things are different now, but I am not going to complain either."

Living the circuit as a mother

"Everything is different, especially the approach. I don't train as much as before, but I keep trying to do my best on the court in every match. I feel like I am more productive because I have less time. Life on the circuit becomes a bit harder as a mother, but we try to make everything as normal as possible. When it comes to competing, the feeling is the same. When I'm on the court, I am the same tennis player as before, I still have that emotional factor, maybe not as developed, but I still care a lot about my sport. I want to do my best, so on the court, I am the same."

Only mother left in the draw

"It's not that I'm surprised, I am happy about it, but I acknowledge that I was inspired a lot by other players. I don't usually look at the draw, I didn't realize I was the last mother left and that I had to win, it doesn't work like that. I think each one has their own story after coming back from an injury, or being a promising player, or being on the tour for many years. In general, I'm happy about how well everyone is doing. Sport is doing everything possible to move in the right direction so that mothers have it easier, so they can decide to start a family and continue on the tour. I think things are being done right and, at the same time, showing the way for other sports."

Connection with Wimbledon

"I don't remember Hingis' title because it was in 1997, the year I was born, but I have seen it repeated many times. I think the first memory I have of Wimbledon is from 2003, with Roger Federer lifting the trophy, I was six years old then. That's when I said, ‘Oh, I want to hold that trophy someday.’ That's when I realized that there was a different trophy for women, that's the first memory I have. Then came all the years of Roger winning the title, we always followed him closely, including the crazy 2008 final with Rafa. I have many memories of Wimbledon on TV as a child, dreaming of playing here one day."

Adjusting to grass

"It came naturally to me, I played for the first time in a junior tournament in Halle, it was the first time I stepped on the grass and hit some balls. I loved the feeling from the very beginning, I didn't have to make any adjustments. Personally, I wish the grass season was longer, I would love for it to have a WTA 1000 tournament, although I know it's difficult. If that were the case, I would choose to play four grass tournaments, the four weeks that exist, although then you have to give your best at Wimbledon and save some energy beforehand. It's difficult to go through this season without playing too much, although the feeling is playing the first tournament and already being at Wimbledon, it's a shame it goes by so quickly."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bencic, madre y tenista al mismo tiempo: “Tienes que hacer malabares”

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