In a candid admission on Caroline Garcia’s podcast, Swiss tennis sensation Belinda Bencic opened up about her early career struggles with injuries and how they have shaped her perspective on the sport and her performance. The 27-year-old shared insights into how these challenges, rather than hindering her, have been instrumental in her growth as a player.
Eight years ago, Bencic, a rising star in the tennis world, had to skip the entire clay season due to a minor scar on the periosteum at the coccyx. This was followed by a wrist injury necessitating surgery and a subsequent six-month break from the game. In 2018, she faced another setback, this time in the form of a foot injury.
During these periods of health-related hiatus, her ranking fluctuated, even dropping outside the top 100 and at one point, plunging below the 300-mark. However, the Swiss starlet remained undeterred. She returned to the court with renewed vigor and a fresh perspective, simply grateful for the opportunity to play the sport she loves.
Reflecting on her journey through these trials, Bencic admitted that her previous mindset on the court was burdened with anxiety and the pressure to succeed. “I had these injuries where one injury led to another, and I was out for quite a bit,” she confessed on the Tennis Insider Club podcast. “I was anxious on the court, trying not to lose. And then when I had these injuries, I was just really happy to be back.”
Bencic believes that these injuries had a profound impact on her understanding of her relationship with tennis. It transitioned from a pressured obligation to a cherished passion. The injuries also led her to speculate on the interconnection between the mind and the body, suggesting that her physical injuries could have been her body’s response to her mental state.
In April last year, Bencic took a break from tennis for maternity leave. She made her much-awaited comeback to the sport in late 2024 and has since been performing exceptionally well. She recently clinched the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi, indicating a promising post-pregnancy return.
With her past injuries behind her and a newfound appreciation for the sport, Belinda Bencic seems poised for a strong comeback. Her journey serves as a reminder that obstacles can often pave the way for robust growth and understanding. A former world No. 4, her trajectory hints at a significant post-pregnancy resurgence in the game.