Belinda Bencic continues to dominate in Angers, reaching a final after her maternity leave

Sunday, 08 December 2024 at 05:30

Former world No. 4 Belinda Bencic was one of the notable absences from the 2024 WTA Tour, having taken a break due to her pregnancy and the birth of her first daughter, Bella, in April this year. The Swiss player will face Alycia Parks in the WTA 125 Angers final, seeking the title.

Bencic chose not to wait until 2025 to return to the courts and is using the final part of this season to compete in a few tournaments, helping her prepare for the upcoming year while also earning valuable ranking points to secure a more comfortable position.

Bencic’s remarkable return continues

Since her comeback in late October, she has played an ITF tournament, a W75, and a WTA 125—events of a lower level than she usually competes in. However, they have provided her with important points and, more importantly, a chance to regain competitive rhythm for next season. Bencic has secured seven wins and just one loss so far, with this week being her most impressive, as she has dominated every match.

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On her way to the final, she has conceded an average of just 3.5 games per match and hasn’t dropped a set, including wins over former top-50 players Oceane Dodin and Patricia Maria Tig. Reaching the Angers final has already lifted her 432 spots in the live rankings to world No. 481. If she wins the title, she will rise to No. 399. Next week, she is also set to compete at the Open BLS de Limoges, also in France.

Her final challenge will be against Alycia Parks, another player looking to rediscover her top form. Parks has won 12 of her last 15 matches and recently secured her return to the top 100 after defeating Germany’s Mona Barthel in the semifinals.

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The final could easily pass for a higher-level tournament showdown. Bencic and Parks have faced each other once before, in the second round of the WTA 1000 Montreal Open. In a tightly contested match, Bencic, who was world No. 11 at the time, emerged victorious 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

Belinda Bencic is into her first final after giving birth 🥳 pic.twitter.com/ucDgSmKPdG
— Simon (@BelleBienne) December 7, 2024

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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