Belinda Bencic says motherhood has given her a new perspective on tennis after knocking 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko out of the Australian Open.
The Swiss player held her nerve to beat Ostapenko 6-3, 7-6(6), in just under two hours. Bencic was sternly tested in Melbourne, especially in the second set when she failed to convert five match points when leading 5-4. She then saved two set points in the tiebreaker before sealing her first win at a major event since becoming a mother last year.
“In today’s match, I felt okay. I think it’s tricky to play her Sometimes, it feels like a little bit of Russian roulette and sometimes you’re a spectator on your own court.” Bencic said of playing Ostapenko.
“I tried to stay consistent, stay tough in important moments. I’m glad that it was enough today. Obviously very happy with the win and with the chance to play another round.”
Bencic spent 13 months away from the Tour before returning to action last November at the Billie Jean King Cup. She then played a few lower-level events, reaching the final of a WTA 125 in France at the end of last season. More recently, she won two rounds of qualifying in Adelaide en route to reaching the second round.
Joining the likes of Victoria Azarenka and Naomi Osaka as mums on the Tour, Bencic believes motherhood is helping her deal with pressure on the court.
“I don’t know if it’s extra motivation. I feel like I always have the motivation to play. I do this obviously for myself. I think it gives me more kind of, like, relaxed mode because I think I always want to do my best,” she said.
“Sometimes I put too much pressure on myself. Now I feel like it’s a bit easier to play because, yeah, there’s something more important than tennis.”
Bencic is playing in her first grand Slam since the 2023 US Open. She will face Suzan Lamens in the second round.
