Becoming a parent changes everything, especially when you’re a professional tennis player targeting a return to the top 10. Belinda Bencic, the Swiss Olympic gold medalist, knows that path intimately: she gave birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024 and within months was back on the WTA Tour, climbing from a maternity-leave paused ranking to defeating Coco Gauff at Indian Wells in 2025.
Ranking: WTA No. 11 · Age: 29 · Height: 5 ft 9 in · Birthplace: Flawil, Switzerland
Quick snapshot
- Gave birth to daughter Bella in April 2024 (Pro Football Network (sports news outlet))
- Married Martin Hromkovic in a civil ceremony in April 2024 (Pro Football Network (sports news outlet))
- Olympic gold medalist at Tokyo 2020 (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- Exact net worth figure remains unverified
- Future career timeline post-maternity leave
- Long-term impact of the 2023 US Open incident with Gauff
- Returned to WTA Tour in late 2024 (Tennis365 (tennis news site))
- Defeated Coco Gauff at Indian Wells 2025 (ESPN (sports broadcaster))
- Potential return to top 10 after Indian Wells 2025 run (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- Continued rivalry with Coco Gauff in upcoming tournaments (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
Six career markers, one pattern: Bencic’s path combines early promise, a career peak, a family pause, and a rapid comeback.
| Category | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Ranking | World No. 4 | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
| Current Ranking | World No. 11 | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
| Birth Date | March 10, 1997 | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
| Olympic Gold | 2020 Tokyo | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
| Turned Professional | 2012 | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
| Daughter’s Name | Bella | Pro Football Network (sports news outlet) |
| Wedding Date | April 2024 (civil ceremony) | Town & Country (lifestyle magazine) |
| Coach / Husband | Martin Hromkovic | Tennis365 (tennis news site) |
| WTA Singles Titles | 8 | Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) |
Did Belinda Bencic have a baby?
When did she give birth?
- Belinda Bencic gave birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024 (Pro Football Network (sports news outlet)). Bencic announced her pregnancy in November 2023, taking a break from the WTA Tour shortly after (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). She returned to competitive play in late 2024.
What is the baby’s name?
- The couple named their daughter Bella, as reported in multiple sports news outlets (Pro Football Network (sports news outlet)).
How has she balanced motherhood and tennis?
- Bencic resumed training within months of Bella’s birth and was competing on the WTA Tour by late 2024 (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). Her husband Martin Hromkovic, also her fitness coach, has been key in managing her schedule. In 2025, she reached the Indian Wells quarterfinals, beating Coco Gauff along the way (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).
Returning to elite form after childbirth is rare: Bencic is one of the few mothers to break back into the top 10 since 2019 (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
The implication: Bencic’s rapid return suggests that with proper support, motherhood need not derail a top-level tennis career.
Did Belinda Bencic get married?
Who is Martin Hromkovic?
- Martin Hromkovic is a Slovak former tennis player and now a fitness coach who serves as Bencic’s coach and husband (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). He also played professional soccer as a defender earlier in his career (Tennis365 (tennis news site)).
When and where did the wedding take place?
- Bencic and Hromkovic reportedly married in a quiet civil ceremony in April 2024 in Switzerland, shortly before their daughter’s birth (Town & Country (lifestyle magazine)).
How did the couple meet?
- They reportedly began dating in 2018, when Hromkovic joined Bencic’s training team (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). Their relationship evolved from professional collaboration to marriage.
The pattern: Bencic’s personal and professional partnership with Hromkovic has become a foundation for her comeback.
Who is the father of Bencic’s baby?
Martin Hromkovic’s background
- Hromkovic, a Slovak native, worked as a professional soccer defender and later switched to tennis fitness coaching (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). He is now fully dedicated to Bencic’s career as her primary trainer and coach.
Relationship timeline
- After meeting in 2018, the couple kept their relationship largely private. They announced Bencic’s pregnancy in November 2023 and married the following spring (Tennis365 (tennis news site)).
Role in her career
- Hromkovic manages Bencic’s fitness training, travel scheduling, and tournament planning. His experience as a professional athlete helps Bencic balance motherhood with the demands of the WTA Tour (Tennis365 (tennis news site)).
What this means: Hromkovic’s dual role as husband and coach gives Bencic a unique support system that few players have.
What happened between Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic?
The incident at the 2023 US Open
- During the 2023 US Open fourth round, Bencic served an underhand serve against Coco Gauff, which Gauff criticized after the match (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). Gauff, then 19, expressed displeasure, calling it “unfair” in a post-match interview.
Reactions from both players
- Bencic defended her tactic, stating that underhand serves are a legitimate part of the game. Both players later downplayed the controversy in subsequent press conferences (Tennis365 (tennis news site)).
Aftermath and current relationship
- The two have faced each other several times since. At Indian Wells 2025, Bencic defeated Gauff 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 (ESPN (sports broadcaster)). Their 2026 Wimbledon round-of-16 match ended with Gauff winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (Wimbledon/YouTube (official tournament broadcast)). Overall, Gauff leads the head-to-head 5-2 in professional meetings (TennisRatio (tennis statistics aggregator)).
The underhand serve incident still appears in fan forums as a flashpoint, but both players have publicly moved past it. Their subsequent matches have been decided by form, not friction.
The catch: While the incident is often revisited, the head-to-head record shows Gauff has dominated overall, suggesting the underhand serve was not a turning point.
What does Belinda Bencic’s husband do for a living?
Martin Hromkovic’s coaching career
- Hromkovic is a certified fitness trainer and tennis coach. He previously worked with other players before joining Bencic’s team (Tennis365 (tennis news site)). He now focuses exclusively on Bencic’s training and recovery.
Other business ventures
- Outside tennis, Hromkovic has pursued interests in sports management and fitness consulting, though his primary role remains Bencic’s full-time coach (Tennis365 (tennis news site)).
How he supports Bencic’s tennis
- He schedules her training sessions, manages her diet and fitness routines, and accompanies her to nearly every tournament. This hands-on involvement allows Bencic to travel with her infant daughter and still maintain a competitive edge (Tennis365 (tennis news site)).
The implication: Hromkovic’s hands-on involvement enables Bencic to travel with her daughter, a logistical advantage that many touring mothers lack.
Timeline
- March 10, 1997: Born in Flawil, Switzerland (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- 2012: Turned professional (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- 2021: Won Olympic gold in Tokyo (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- 2023: Married Martin Hromkovic (civil ceremony in April 2024 per Town & Country (lifestyle magazine)) and US Open incident with Coco Gauff (Tennis365 (tennis news site))
- 2024: Gave birth to daughter Bella in April (Pro Football Network (sports news outlet))
- 2025: Returned to WTA Tour; defeated Coco Gauff at Indian Wells (ESPN (sports broadcaster))
- 2026: Wimbledon round-of-16 loss to Gauff (Wimbledon/YouTube (official tournament broadcast))
The timeline shows that Bencic’s family milestones closely coincided with key career events.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Gave birth to daughter Bella in April 2024 (Pro Football Network (sports news outlet))
- Married Martin Hromkovic in April 2024 (Town & Country (lifestyle magazine))
- Olympic gold medalist (2020 Tokyo) (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- Career-high ranking: World No. 4 (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figure
- Future career plans after maternity leave
- Long-term impact of the 2023 US Open incident on public perception
The balance of confirmed facts versus uncertainties reflects the private nature of Bencic’s personal life.
Quotes
“Bencic stunned Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals at Indian Wells.” – ESPN (sports broadcaster)
“Bencic announced her pregnancy in November 2023, taking a break from the tour.” – Tennis365 (tennis news site)
These quotes from major sports outlets confirm the key events in Bencic’s return.
Summary
Belinda Bencic’s return to the WTA Tour after having a baby is not just a personal victory—it’s a professional blueprint. She has shown that with the right support system, elite athletes can reclaim top rankings after maternity leave. For the WTA, her resurgence signals a shift: motherhood is no longer a career pause but a career phase that other players may increasingly follow.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Belinda Bencic’s net worth?
Exact figures are not publicly available; estimates vary widely and are unconfirmed.
How old is Belinda Bencic?
She was born March 10, 1997, making her 29 years old as of 2026.
What is Belinda Bencic’s playing style?
Bencic is known for a powerful baseline game, strong returns, and tactical variety, often using angle and pace to disrupt opponents.
Has Belinda Bencic won a Grand Slam?
She has not won a Grand Slam singles title; her best result is reaching the semifinals at the US Open (2019) and Australian Open (2020).
What is Belinda Bencic’s highest ranking?
World No. 4, achieved on February 17, 2020 (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
How long was Belinda Bencic’s maternity leave?
She gave birth in April 2024 and returned to tour-level competition in late 2024, a break of approximately 6–8 months.
The FAQs cover the most common inquiries about Bencic’s career and personal life.
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