The 2025 tennis season starts on Friday, with the United Cup in Sydney and Perth. For the Swiss, Belinda Bencic and Dominic Stricker in the lead, it is time to win back.
The Swiss team is making its return to this United Cup, of which it had missed the previous edition. She owes her presence to the return to business of Belinda Bencic, who returned to competition this fall after her maternity break.
The 2021 Olympic champion has already clearly demonstrated that her potential remains immense, even after the birth of her daughter last April. As for Swiss fans, many eyes will be on her next year.
After only three tournaments – and a Billie Jean King meeting – Belinda Bencic is already back in the top 500 (8 wins, 2 losses). In the WTA 125 in Angers, she notably outclassed the 113th in the world Océane Dodin 6-3 6-1. But she aims higher: her goal remains to win a Major.
With her protected ranking of 15th, the St. Galloise is assured of a place in the main draw of the Australian Open, the first highlight of the year. Dominic Stricker will also be present in Melbourne thanks to a protected classification, while Stan Wawrinka received a wild card as 2014 champion.
Stricker under pressure
After the leanest year in decades – no Swiss or Swiss in the round of 16 of a Grand Slam tournament – many find themselves at a turning point. While Stan Wawrinka (ATP 161) will try, at almost 40 years old, to shine once again, for Dominic Stricker (ATP 300) it is a question of relaunching his career.
After back problems which stopped him for six months, the 2020 Roland-Garros junior champion took time to find his rhythm. But with a quarter-final in Stockholm and a round of 16 in Basel, he proved his undeniable potential. He must nevertheless return to the top 100 before his protected ranking expires.
Stricker forms with Belinda Bencic the duo planned for the United Cup. Switzerland will face France (December 28) and Italy (December 29) in Group D in Sydney. Céline Naef, Conny Perrin, Rémy Bertola and Jakub Paul are also part of the Swiss team. The group winners plus the best runner-up will reach the quarter-finals on January 2 or 3.
Thanks to Viktorija Golubic (WTA 90), however, the year does not end without a Swiss presence in the top 100. The 32-year-old from Zurich racked up ten victories and won the tournaments in Jiujiang (WTA 250) and Limoges ( Challenger). But these excellent results came too late to allow him – barring a series of withdrawals – to directly enter the final draw in Melbourne.
The Olympic doubles vice-champion will have to go through the qualifications for this Australian Open, where she will have to win three matches against extremely motivated opponents. However, she will play big since she reached the 3rd round for the first time last January in Melbourne.
The 'Next Gen' in the top 100
Among the men, several other young talents are waiting to break into the top 100 after having been, like Stricker, held back by injuries. Leandro Riedi (ATP 135) was on track before having to end his season at the end of August due to knee surgery.
Jérôme Kym (ATP 134) had to undergo one in 2023, but he showed a great reaction last year. The two Zurich residents Alexander Ritschard (ATP 118) and Marc-Andrea Hüsler (ATP 159) are already among the most experienced. They hope to return to the top 100.
Among the ladies, Céline Naef (WTA 153), 19, can also rely on a good autumn, while Jil Teichmann (WTA 135) has also regained her footing after difficult months. In addition, the Swiss contingent received an unexpected reinforcement with the return under the Swiss banner of Rebeka Masarova (WTA 145), who had turned her back on Switzerland in 2018 to join the Spanish federation.
/ATS
