With the final Grand Slam event over for 2024, US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka is bidding for a third successive Australian Open title in January.
After a brutal summer of tennis was made even more challenging after the inclusion of the Paris Olympics, some high-profile players have already been forced to call an end to their 2024 season.
The US Open saw several high-profile absentees with Ons Jabeur forced off through injury to her shoulder.
Tunisia’s Jabeur recently ended her 2024 season early, with fitness woes forcing her hand.
Former world number three Elina Svitolina also announced her season was coming to an end early for the second consecutive year.
The Ukrainian finally underwent surgery on her foot after having been nursing the issue all year.
With this spate of exits, a former top 10 WTA player announced the opposite, setting a return date for just over a month’s time.
Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic sets WTA comeback date
Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic is set to return after over a year away from tennis. Having not played since the San Diego Open last September, her and partner Martin Hromkovic welcomed their daughter Bella to the world in April this year.
When she announced her pregnancy and break from tennis last year, Bencic confirmed her intention to return to the court as soon as the time was right.
Bencic has decided to return in mid-November to represent Switzerland at the Billie Jean King Cup.
The former number four told Swiss media Sportspanorama: “I’m 27, I feel good, I still have a few good years ahead of me on the tour. I’m very happy with the way we’re doing things. The goal is still the Billie Jean King Cup in November.”
While the team haven’t quite qualified for the finals, they are set to host Serbia from November 15-16 in a play-off tie – the winner of which will have the chance to qualify for the next year’s finals.
“Playing tennis is like riding a bike, you don’t forget it. But I have to get even fitter. I’m also still breastfeeding. You have to take that into account. Martin [Hromkovic] is adapting my fitness plan accordingly. My body feels good,” Bencic added.
“I need that to be ready for the Australian Open. My goal is still to win a Grand Slam title. I can now separate my private life and work better, my priority is Bella and tennis is almost secondary. In the past, I often fought against myself on the court. It could be that this takes all the pressure off me,”
What was Belinda Bencic’s last match?
The 27-year-old lost in the US Open round of 16 to Sorana Cirstea, another long-term injured player, before heading to San Diego.
Her final match came in the form of a three-set defeat to Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round of the event.
A strong 2023 saw Bencic win the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi, beating Liudmila Samsonova in the final, before also reaching the final in Charleston a few months later, losing to Jabeur.
Having risen to the top of the WTA before, Bencic already has grand ambitions and has set the Australian Open as an opportunity to prove she is truly back.
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