Belinda Bencic, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in tennis, has welcomed her first child, a daughter named Bella. The joyous news was announced by Bencic’s longtime boyfriend, Slovak soccer player Martin Hromkovic, on Instagram on Wednesday.
Bencic, 27, had previously announced her pregnancy in November 2023, when she was ranked No. 14 in the world. The announcement was met with an outpouring of love and support from her fellow WTA players, including Ons Jabeur, Jelena Ostapenko, Jil Teichmann, and Donna Vekic.
Before going on maternity leave, Bencic had a successful season in 2023. She won titles in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi, and was the runner-up in Charleston to Jabeur. She also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the US Open, where she had match points against Iga Swiatek before falling in three sets.
Bencic’s return to tennis after giving birth is highly anticipated. She is known for her aggressive baseline play and powerful forehand. Her fans and fellow players alike are eager to see her back on the court and competing for more titles.
