Returning Bencic stuns Gauff in Indian Wells

Belinda Bencic has reached the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 tournament for the primary time since coming back from maternity go away [Getty Images]Former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic endured her sensational shape since coming back from maternity go away by means of beating Coco Gauff to achieve the Indian Wells quarter-finals.Bencic, who gave beginning to her daughter Bella remaining April, battled laborious to win 3-6 6-3 6-4 in opposition to American 3rd seed Gauff.The 28-year-old Swiss participant has received 17 of her 21 fits since making her comeback to the WTA Excursion this season.Remaining month she received the Abu Dhabi Open identify simply 10 months after the arriving of her first kid.After beating Gauff, Bencic stated turning into a mom has given a brand new viewpoint on her profession and permitting her to play with extra freedom.”I all the time inform myself it isn’t important if I win this fit, I have already received in existence,” she stated in her on-court interview.”I’ve a fantastic circle of relatives, I am very blessed.”The extent of Bencic’s recreation – and the consequences which she has completed – so quickly into her comeback has been very spectacular.Unranked when she returned to the second-tier WTA Challenger Excursion in October, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist will transfer again throughout the international’s peak 50 subsequent week.Beating Gauff secured her moment win over a top-five opponent in 2025, having crushed 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina within the Abu Dhabi semi-finals.Bencic is best the 6th wildcard to achieve the ladies’s remaining 8 at Indian Wells for the reason that event started in 1989.She subsequent will face both Australian Open champion Madison Keys or Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic – a detailed good friend of Bencic.