Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic is preparing for her return to the French Open 2026 after a three-year absence following maternity leave. The 11th seed enjoyed a heartwarming practice session alongside her two-year-old daughter Bella as she targets her maiden Grand Slam title after an impressive comeback season on the WTA Tour.
The World No.12 and Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic had her first practice session ahead of the French Open 2026, starting on May 24. Bencic played two clay court tournaments at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open as part of her preparation for the upcoming edition of the Roland Garros.
Bencic is returning to the French Open after three years of absence due to her maternity leave and subsequent return to the tour. The 29-year-old’s last appearance in one of the prestigious Grand Slam tournaments was in 2023, where she suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of lucky loser Elina Avanesyan in a grueling three-set match.
Belinda Bencic, 2021 Tokyo Olympics Gold medalist, is currently enjoying a spectacular run in her comeback season, where she has put the tennis world on notice, culminating in her being named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year in 2025. Though Bencic has not won any singles titles this season, she did win a mixed doubles title at the 2026 Indian Wells Open, partnering with Flavio Cobolli.
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Belinda Bencic’s Daughter Joins Practice Session
As Belinda Bencic begins her preparations for her maiden Grand Slam triumph at the French Open this year, the Swiss star had a delightful boost from her biggest supporter, that is, none other than her two-year-old daughter Bella, who was born in April 2024.
In a video posted by Roland Garros on its Instagram handle, Bella was seen completely in her element, enjoying her mother’s practice session with unparalleled enthusiasm. Clutching a miniature racquet in her hand, little Bella was roaming around the court and trying to copy her mother's stance.
The heartwarming clip also captured Bencic playfully feeding balls to her daughter, who eagerly swung her racquet, bringing a huge smile to the Olympic champion's face. Bella even tried to help collect the tennis balls scattered across the baseline, taking her self-appointed role as "assistant coach" very seriously.
Belinda Bencic married her long-time partner and fitness coach, Martin Hromkovic, in a quiet civil ceremony in April 2024, just before welcoming their daughter. Hromkovic is a former professional footballer who represented clubs like FK Inter Bratislava and spent the majority of his career at OFC Russell Gabciíkovo.
After retiring from a 17-year professional football career, Martin Hromkovic transitioned into a strength and conditioning coach and formally joined Belinda Bencic's team in late 2018.
What Lies Ahead for Belinda Bencic at the French Open?
Belinda Bencic will begin her quest for the maiden Grand Slam triumph as the No. 11 seed against a qualifier. Given her inconsistent results at Grand Slam events, where she reached the semifinal only twice at the 2019 US Open and 2023 Wimbledon, the Swiss star heads into Roland Garros with a redefined sense of confidence.
Given her recent results at the Madrid Open and Italian Open, where she experienced a mix of commanding victories and tough battles, she is focused on peaking at the right time for the clay-court Grand Slam. If she progresses in the upcoming edition of the French Open, Bencic is likely to lock horns with some of the tournament's top-seeded heavyweights, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Belinda Bencic will enter the French Open as one of the key players to watch in the women's draw, carrying a unique blend of veteran experience and a completely liberated mindset. Bencic’s Grand Slam record is quite decent, winning 67 matches in 104 outings, with a win percentage of 64%.
It remains to be seen whether Belinda Bencic can translate her stellar comeback form into her first-ever clay-court Grand Slam title.
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