Bencic wins Abu Dhabi for first WTA Tour title as a mother

Belinda Bencic won her first WTA title as a mother after she came from behind to beat American Ashlyn Krueger 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the final of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, who gave birth to her first child – daughter Bella in April 2024 – won her ninth WTA Tour title, recovering superbly to run away with the second and third sets and complete the perfect week.

The former Olympic champion celebrated victory by hugging her daughter before the trophy presentation.

“I didn’t imagine this,” Bencic said. “I’m getting a little emotional. I was working really hard to even play, coming back. and also to win the title in front of my family is pretty special.”

“It was a big dream to come back and play in front of her and win the tournament.”

Bencic back in the top 100

Bencic will climb 92 places in the WTA rankings on Monday, moving up to No 65, less than a year after giving birth.

Bencic, ranked No 157, beat Slovak Rebecca Sramkova (6-2, 3-6, 6-1), Russian lucky loser Veronika Kudermetova (6-0, 6-0), wildcard Marketa Vondrousova (7-5, 6-3) and Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the top seed (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) ahead of her victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Krueger, ranked No 51, beat qualifier McCartney Kessler (6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3), Russian Daria Kasatkina, the No 3 seed (1-6, 7-5, 6-4), Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the No 8 seed (7-5, 4-6, 6-2) and Linda Noskova (7-6 (2), 6-4).