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It has been 45 years since a mother was crowned champion at Wimbledon. But Belinda Bencic is now just two wins away from emulating Evonne Goolagong Cawley – after beating the baby of the draw yesterday.
The Swiss supermum only returned to the tour in October following a 13-month break, having given birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024. She did not even have a ranking when she made her comeback and was the world No487 at the turn of the year.
But Bencic is now a Wimbledon semi-finalist after yesterday’s surprise 7-6, 7-6 win over 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva – and she will also be back in the world’s top 20 when the new rankings are released.
‘I’m very proud,’ said the 28-year-old when asked about her remarkable return to tennis. ‘All my career I didn’t say that a lot to myself, but after having Bella, I really say it to myself every day.
‘We are just enjoying life on tour with Bella. It has been beautiful to create these memories together. To play great is amazing, but for me it’s a bonus. I am generally just really happy to be able to play again and for my body to allow it.’
Andreeva was Wimbledon’s youngest quarter-finalist since her fellow Russian Maria Sharapova 20 years ago. The seventh seed had not dropped a set coming into yesterday’s Centre Court clash, but the occasion got the better of the frustrated teenager in an error-strewn display.
The Swiss supermum, 28, only returned to the tour in October following a 13-month break
She booked her spot in the Wimbledon semi-final after defeating 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva
Andreeva was Wimbledon’s youngest quarter-finalist since fellow Russian Maria Sharapova
Bencic, who would also be the first mum to win a major since Kim Clijsters in 2009, will now meet Iga Swiatek in today’s semi-final.
The five-time Grand Slam champion swatted aside Russian Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 to reach the last four at SW19 for the first time. And having finally got to grips with grass, Swiatek appears keen to remember her time here, stashing Wimbledon towels into her bag after yesterday’s win, before doing a 'shushing' motion to the camera.
‘I have really enjoyed playing on the grass this year and hopefully it will last as long as possible,’ said the Pole. ‘I really worked hard to progress on this surface. I am super proud. I got goosebumps after this win.’
The opening semi-final on Centre Court today will see world No1 Aryna Sabalenka take on 13th seed Amanda Anisimova as she bids to make her first Wimbledon final.
Sabalenka has actually lost five of her eight meetings with American Ansimova, although she beat her in last month’s French Open.
‘She's a challenging player and we have had a lot of tough battles,’ said the Belarusian. ‘This surface suits her game really well. It’s going to be very aggressive tennis.’
