Belinda Bencic reached her first WTA Tour remaining since getting back from maternity depart with a shock victory over Elena Rybakina on the Abu Dhabi Open.
The Swiss former Olympic champion clinched a 3-6 6-3 6-4 conquer world quantity 5 Rybakina in two hours and 6 minutes.
Bencic welcomed her daughter, Bella, in April 2024, and returned from a 13-month break from the tour six months later.
The 27-year-old’s win over Kazakhstan’s Rybakina was her first in opposition to a top-five opponent since she turned a mom, and she is going to face American Ashlyn Krueger in Sunday’s remaining.
Bencic, who gained the Abu Dhabi title in 2023, mentioned reaching the ultimate was reward for “working actually laborious to come back again” after the beginning of her first baby.
“It was positively not a simple highway, and I am so excited that the outcomes are coming so quick,” Bencic mentioned.
“It nonetheless doesn’t suggest that the work is over, so I’ve a protracted solution to go, however I am actually pleased the way it’s engaged on the court docket. I am actually having fun with myself on the court docket.”
Ranked 1,213 on the earth 4 months in the past, Bencic is now assured a return to the highest 100 following the conclusion of the match.
World quantity 51 Krueger, who has one WTA singles title to her identify, reached the ultimate with a straight units victory over Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.
The 20-year-old beat the world quantity 39 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 on the Zayed Sports activities Metropolis Worldwide Tennis Centre.
