"We are texting sometimes, and I'm glad she's doing well. She's going to be an amazing mother" - Belinda Bencic shares support for former Charleston Open enemy Ons Jabeur

Belinda Bencic continues to make herself a dangerous competitor on court. Her latest win at the Charleston Open came at the hands of Sara Bejlek in a 7-5, 6-2 victory which did not come easy. It is another win at a tournament Bencic has grown to love. She was also quick to share her love for former champion Ons Jabeur who is set to become a mother for the first time, following in the footsteps of Bencic.

The 29-year-old was on the back foot in the early stages. She was forced to watch on the sidelines as her Abu Dhabi title got passed down to the Czech qualifier earlier this year, and she was hoping to get revenge. After falling 3-0 down, she got back on level terms but was unable to do anything as Bejlek went 5-3 up and had the chance to serve it out. Bencic fought back and forced a tiebreak to end the first set.

She would pick a slender lead and keep a hold of it to leap out in front. The second set was a lot more routine for her amid a flurry of breaks. She was able to see it out to book another quarterfinal match in this tournament. It will be former Australian Open champion Madison Keys as her next task.

The reality of the match was that it would not be the most eye-catching and clean performances the Swiss has produced, but that would be all a fleeting thought after she managed to get herself back into the first set before eventually blasting away.

"I think I just accepted that it wasn’t going to be pretty and that I wasn’t going to play perfectly," she told the Tennis Channel. "I really tried to stick to my game—pushing and moving forward—and just keep the ball in. She was being very tricky with different spins and speeds, running down balls and standing really far behind the baseline. So I had to adjust mentally as well. I’m happy I managed to turn that first set around—it was really important."

She went on to describe what improved in the second set. "I think the way I started. I calmed down and loosened up my hands a little bit," she explained. "On serve, I didn’t try to do too much. She was standing so far behind the baseline, so there wasn’t much point going for a risky, flat first serve. I think I need to serve better in my next match, but overall I’m really happy with the win. I’ll enjoy the day and get ready for tomorrow."

The change from hardcourt to clay is never a straightforward one, but it can be done effectively. Bencic wisely decided to stick around in the USA to compete on the grey clay of Charleston. She has been fond of this tournament before, winning the title in 2022 before a certain Ons Jabeur took her revenge the next year.

She has made it 20 victories in this competition, showcasing her fondness for it and the surface which makes the transition to red clay a lot easier. "For me, it’s a really good transition. It’s a bit of a shock to go from hard courts to red clay, so I like this surface—it doesn’t slide as much, it’s a bit muddy, and it’s quite fast."

That was not the only reason, hinting at her love for the city itself. "But it’s not just that—I really love Charleston as a city. This tournament is incredible," she admitted. "The organisation is amazing—Bob does such a great job every year and really looks after the players. We feel appreciated here. The fans are great too. Even walking around the city, people know about the tournament. It’s just a really special vibe."

Along with it being her 20th win in Charleston, it was her 301st career win, surpassing a huge milestone. The 300th came in her first match against Dayana Yastremska. A stat she was amazed by. "I didn’t even know that," she exclaimed.

"I think you guys in the media usually tell us about these things. Of course, it’s special. But every match feels the same—you’re stressed, you’re trying to win, and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing or where. I’m just really passionate about tennis. Even if I were playing in the third league in Switzerland, I’d feel the same way."

Bencic and Jabeur have shared a lot of memories and rivalries at the Charleston Open. Along with their two meetings in the finals of 2022 and 2023, Jabeur also culminated at that stage in 2021 but would fail to get over the line.

They will not be meeting on court anytime soon with Jabeur set to become a mother for the first time. She will be hoping to get back to tennis after a hiatus due to her pregnancy, relishing the chance to reach prior heights.

Bencic has also been through a similar process. She welcomed her daughter, Bella, in April 2024 before making her return to the sport six months later on the ITF Circuit. It did not take her long to get back in the swing of things, winning a WTA 500 title within four months of returning to the sport, and has climbed back into the top 10 after a fast start in 2026.

In her on-court interview after her second-round victory, she paid tribute to the Tunisian while joking about their prior meetings on court. “I’m happy she’s finally not here, so maybe I can not play a final against her," she joked.

Despite their past rivalry, the current world number 12 stated that they are in contact. “I'm very happy for her. We are texting sometimes, and I'm glad she's doing well. She's going to be an amazing mother. I think it was her big dream to have a baby, and I think it's amazing that athletes choose their family as well as their career.”