A new ladies’ singles champion will be crowned on Saturday. Will it be the last mum standing, Belinda Bencic?
Bencic didn’t have the greatest run-in to her ninth Wimbledon main draw. The Swiss mother-of-one retired injured in her opening match in Rome due to an arm injury, which then ruled her out of Roland-Garros entirely. Her return in Bad Homburg lasted one match.
But the 28-year-old Bencic is an experienced campaigner, and her British coach Iain Hughes made sure she got in the necessary practice to mount an assault in SW19.
On Wednesday she battled past Mirra Andreeva in two tight tie-breaks to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
After wrapping up victory, Bencic said: "I was studyIng her all evening yesterday to find a plan of what to do and I think the game plan worked."
Bencic doesn’t have the biggest serve, but she put her largely sliced delivery beautifully into the corners – keeping it very low and therefore out of the strike zone of her teenage opponent, who was unable to gain control with her return.
Then, using her unorthodox groundstrokes (open stance on both wings, and stepping through shots), Bencic backed up her precise serve magnificently. The Swiss won just under 75 per cent of first serve points and over half behind her second. She was broken only once, as she attempted to serve it out at 5-4 in the second, but broke straight back. The tie-breaks were similar - Bencic seized control early and never let go.
"In the end, when it’s getting so tight, you’re not thinking any more," she said.
"Your body is functioning, but it’s on instinct. I felt like I was there on her serve.
You always have to put pressure on the opponent."
After winning the second tie-break, she lifted both arms, dropped her racket and looked with disbelief towards her team.
"It’s crazy – it's unbelievable - it’s a dream come true," she said. "I tried not to think about it on the match points as I had trouble last time with the match points. I’m speechless. It’s only the second semi in a Grand Slam for me – first at Wimbledon."
Bencic, who gave birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024, and started the year ranked No.489, won her first tournament back earlier this year, just four months after returning to competition.
"I’m very proud. All my career, I didn’t say it a lot to myself – but after having Bella I really say it to myself every day."
I was studyIng her all evening yesterday to find a plan of what to do and I think the game plan worked.
Bencic thanked those in her box. "It’s not only me. I wouldn’t be able to do it without my amazing family and also my amazing team. We worked so hard on the comeback. We’re enjoying life on tour with Bella travelling. It’s been beautiful to create these moments together.
"It’s a bonus – I‘m just so happy to be able to play again."
Bencic will face Iga Swiatek for a place in the final and she thinks their contrasting styles will make for a good semi-final.
"I don't think we play similar at all. She plays very physical and puts a lot of spin on the ball. I think I take the ball really early, play a little bit more flat. It's going to be a very interesting game to watch. I will take some time this evening to make up a tactic again."
Swiatek leads the head-to-head 3-1, but they haven’t met since playing in the round of 16 at Wimbledon two years ago – a match the Pole won in three sets.