Belinda Bencic Becomes Latest Mom To Reach Wimbledon Semifinals

Belinda Bencic is the latest mom to reach the Wimbledon semifinals.

The unseeded Bencic, a 28-year-old native of Switzerland who has been ranked as high as No. 4 in the world, became the third mother in the last four years to reach the final four after defeating No. 7 Mirra Andreeva, 7-6(3), 7-6(2), in the quarterfinals.

“It’s crazy,” Bencic said on court. “it’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true. Just speechless.”

Tatjana Maria of Germany reached the semis as a mother in 2022, and Elina Svitolina made the final four a year later.

“Congratulations, mom,” John McEnroe said on ESPN after Bencic’s win.

The last mother to win Wimbledon was Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

Kim Clijsters is the last mother to win a Grand Slam at the 2011 Australian Open. Serena Williams played in three major finals following the birth of her first child in 2017, but the GOAT of women’s tennis lost all three finals (twice at the U.S. Open and once at Wimbledon).

Bencic, playing in her second major semifinal after the 2019 U.S. Open, will face five-time major champion and No. 8 Iga Swiatek in the second semifinal at about 9:30 ET on Thursday. Swiatek swept past Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, 6-2, 7-5 earlier Wednesday.

No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces No. 13 Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. in the first semifinal.

Bencic is in the Wimbledon semis just 10 months after returning to the tour after giving birth to her daughter Bella, who was born on April 23, 2024. Her partner is Slovakian soccer player Martin Hromkovic, who also serves as her fitness coach.

“I’m someone that I don’t like to make big statements about how I want to win the tournament, blah blah blah,” Bencic told Tennis Channel after her fourth-round win. “It’s not important. I have to focus on the next one. And I’m really happy with how I played better from round to round and I’m improving on the court.”