Did Belinda Bencic Just Make History at Wimbledon 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bencic's resilience is inspiring, showcasing her ability to bounce back.
- She has successfully transitioned back to competitive tennis after motherhood.
- This win is a significant milestone in her career.
- Her performance indicates she is a strong contender on grass courts.
- Bencic aims for her first Grand Slam semifinal in the current season.
London, July 7 (NationPress) Belinda Bencic triumphed over No. 18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4, marking her first entry into the Wimbledon quarterfinals and her inaugural Grand Slam quarterfinal since welcoming her daughter. The match lasted 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Just a fortnight ago, the Swiss athlete faced a challenging comeback, winning only three games against Alexandrova in Bad Homburg, following an arm injury. However, Bencic turned the situation around dramatically, needing just under two hours to secure her place in the last eight.
The contest concluded with intense moments. While serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set, Bencic had five match points, but Alexandrova bravely saved four of them with stunning forehand winners. When Alexandrova managed to break back, the momentum seemed to shift.
Nevertheless, Bencic remained composed, fighting back from 0-30 in the subsequent game, winning four consecutive points, and finally sealing her victory on her sixth match point as a forehand from Alexandrova went long.
The 28-year-old, who welcomed her daughter Bella in April 2024, has made a remarkable return to form. After being unranked last October, she has climbed back to No. 35 in the world. This win adds to her impressive 2025 campaign, which already includes a title in Abu Dhabi and a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open, as noted by the WTA.
Bencic, a former junior champion at Wimbledon (2013) and a proven competitor on grass, had previously reached the fourth round three times. This time, she successfully broke through. For Alexandrova, it’s yet another missed chance — marking her third exit in the Round of 16 at a major, and her second consecutive at Wimbledon.
Bencic, who clinched the women's singles gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will now set her sights on reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal in what has already been an extraordinary comeback season.
Bencic’s peak performance at Grand Slams is reaching the semifinals of the US Open in 2019. She has also led Switzerland to victory in the Fed Cup in 2022 and the Hopman Cup in both 2018 and 2019.