HAMBURG/STARNBERG, October 16, 2024
Belinda Bencic, Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo 2021, will make her comeback after maternity leave at the Hamburg Henssler at Home Ladies Cup. The ITF World Tennis Tour W75 tournament will take place at the Verbandshalle in Hamburg from October 27 to November 3.
Six months after the birth of her daughter Bella, the former World No. 4 will compete in her first tournament since returning to the tour. Bencic requested a wild card for the indoor event, which offers a prize pool of $60,000, as a way to test her form under competitive conditions.
“We were thrilled to receive such a high-profile request for a wild card! It’s a huge highlight for the tennis city of Hamburg to have a superstar like Belinda Bencic competing in our hall,” said tournament director Björn Kroll.
Bencic Prepares for Billie Jean King Cup and Talks About Her Return
Bencic, 27, shared her excitement for the event in a brief interview with the Hamburg Tennis Association. She explained her choice to return at the ITF World Tennis Tour W75 event, stating that the timing of her comeback aligns well with her goal to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup in November, which will be held in Biel, Switzerland.
“I’m extremely excited to compete in Hamburg and very grateful for the wildcard. It fits perfectly with the timing of my comeback. My goal for this year is the Billie Jean King Cup, and I’m happy to test my level at the tournament in Hamburg,” Bencic said.
When asked about her current fitness and tennis levels, Bencic admitted she is not yet at her peak but feels “ready to compete.” She emphasized the importance of using the tournament to assess areas of improvement so she can start the next season in top shape. She also mentioned that her daughter Bella will be joining her in Hamburg, and she looks forward to managing the logistics of the life on the tour with her baby.
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First Visit to Hamburg
Despite her global tennis career, this will be Bencic’s first visit to Hamburg. She expressed excitement about exploring the city, one of Germany’s most beautiful spots, as long as the weather cooperates.
Career Highlights and Personal Life
Bencic has won seven WTA Tour titles and earned over $12 million in prize money. Her biggest career achievement was winning the Gold Medal at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.
She last competed in September 2023 at the San Diego Open before announcing her pregnancy in November while ranked 14th in the world. Her daughter Bella was born on April 23. The baby’s father is Bencic’s long-term partner and fitness coach, Martin Hromkovic.
