Belinda Bencic defeats world No. 5 Elena Rybakina in a stunning comeback to reach the Abu Dhabi final

Belinda Bencic has taken a giant step in her comeback journey, securing her first WTA Tour final since returning from maternity leave. The Swiss star stunned world No. 5 Elena Rybakina with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory at the Abu Dhabi Open, proving she is still a force to be reckoned with.

The 27-year-old Olympic gold medallist, who welcomed her daughter Bella in April 2024, made her return to the circuit just six months ago after a 13-month break. Despite facing an uphill battle in the rankings—plummeting as low as 1,213 four months ago—Bencic has climbed rapidly, now securing her place back in the top 100.

The match against Rybakina was nothing short of a rollercoaster. Bencic struggled in the opening set as the Kazakh powerhouse dominated with her blistering serve and relentless baseline aggression. But the Swiss star refused to back down. She regrouped in the second set, adjusting her tactics to break Rybakina’s rhythm and forcing errors with deep, well-placed returns.

With the momentum shifting in her favour, Bencic sealed the deciding set with a combination of tactical precision and unwavering determination. As she clenched her fist in triumph, the Abu Dhabi crowd roared in approval—witnessing a mother, an athlete, and a champion reclaim her place on the court.

“It was definitely not an easy road, and I’m so excited that the results are coming so fast,” Bencic said after the match. “I still have a long way to go, but I’m really enjoying myself out there.”

She will now face 20-year-old American Ashlyn Krueger in Sunday’s final. Krueger ranked No. 51, secured her spot with a commanding straight-sets victory over Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, over at the Rotterdam Open, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the semi-finals, dismantling fellow Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-1. The reigning Wimbledon champion needed just over an hour to wrap up the match, delivering a masterclass in shot-making and control. Alcaraz will now take on Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who overcame Andrey Rublev in a gruelling three-set battle.

Elsewhere, Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci continued his dream run by shocking Stefanos Tsitsipas with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory. Bellucci will now clash with Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who breezed past Daniel Altmaier to book his place in the last four.

With Bencic chasing a fairytale title, Alcaraz eyeing another trophy, and underdogs making waves, this weekend promises electric tennis action.