The Swiss team beat France (2-1) on the night of Friday to Saturday in Sydney, Australia. In this mixed team competition, Saint-Welsh Belinda Bencic (27 years old, WTA 487) smiled at the end of her two matches.
The 2021 Olympic champion in Tokyo first beat Chloe Paquet (30 years old, WTA 123) in straight sets (6-3 6-1) on the hard courts of the Ken Rosewall Arena. This success was his first in a tour tournament since his victory in the third round of the 2023 US Open 15 months ago.
Former world number 4 Bencic, who gave birth to daughter Bella in April, needed just 87 minutes to give Switzerland the first point.
Following the setback conceded by Bernese Dominic Stricker (22 years old, ATP 300) against Ugo Humbert (26 years old, ATP 14) with a score of 6-3 7-5, a logical outcome, Belinda Bencic then returned to the court to play a doubles with Stricker. The Swiss duo won in two sets (6-1 7-6) against Elixane Lechemia and the 41-year-old veteran Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
“I’m very excited to be back,” Bencic said. I was a little nervous at the beginning and a little rusty, so I’m glad I accepted that and tried to fight. And afterward, I felt like it went easier, I became a little calmer and I was better able to concentrate on my tennis.”
Bencic returned to the courts in October, playing in the Billie Jean King Cup, WTA 125 and ITF tournaments.
“I didn’t expect, of course, to come back so soon. I have a lot of respect for all the mothers who are there, for what a woman goes through, for the changes in her body. And everything is great, we couldn’t be happier right now, added Bencic. We are parents now, our lives have changed, but definitely for the better, and we are super excited with Bella. She’s here, we survived the flight to Australia, and I’m really, really happy.”
At the United Cup, Switzerland will play its next matches against Italy.
