Belinda Bencic has put herself into the conversation ahead of the Australian Open after an impressive start to the 2026 season.
Bencic has been called one of the best not to win a major, as a former Olympic champion and world number four.
After giving birth to her first child in 2024, Bencic was able to climb 478 ranking places last year after winning two titles and reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon.
The 28-year-old has continued this form into 2026, with Bencic being named the MVP at the United Cup after winning all of her singles matches.
Bencic has returned to the top 10 as a result, and now former world number one Kim Clijsters has suggested whether she thinks the Swiss is a contender for the Australian Open title.
Kim Clijsters comments on Belinda Bencic’s form ahead of the Australian Open
Clijsters knows what it takes to win majors as a four-time Grand Slam champion, including winning the Australian Open in 2011.
Speaking about the upcoming Australian Open on her Love All Podcast, Clijsters was asked if she thinks players can play ‘too well’ in events ahead of Grand Slams in reference to Bencic.
Clijsters suggested that Bencic is ‘capable’ of winning the Australian Open, before discussing her own experience of this.
“Yes and no,” answered Clijsters. “It’s always great when you start an event, she’s had a long off-season, she’s worked hard, gotten a lot fitter, worked on some tactical things as well, and you can see that. She came out, was ready to go, had gameplans in every match.
“In Belinda’s case, she hasn’t been able to do it [in a Slam], but she’s capable of doing it, and that’s the biggest confidence booster that you can tell yourself. I can beat these players, I just haven’t been able to do it match after match in the Grand Slams. So it’s not about not being able to do it or not being good enough to do it.”
Who is your dark horse for the 2026 Australian Open?
Clijsters continued, “Out of my experience, when I won Brisbane in 2010, played one of the best matches I think I’ve ever played against Justine [Henin] in the Brisbane final, think it was 7-6 in the third, ended up winning, was match points down. I feel like that was one of the matches where both Justine and I played at a very high level.
“Fast forward a week later, I lost first round in the Australian Open. It didn’t mean anything. I had so much confidence, was super fit, trained really hard, felt like I was hitting the ball really well.
“Then a year later, 2011, the day before I start the Australian Open, I lost a practice set to Sabine Lisicki 6-0, and I end up winning the tournament! So it really doesn’t mean anything, you just have to forget about it as soon as possible, and start from scratch, I guess.”
Bencic has never surpassed the fourth round of the Australian Open before, but she has reached the semifinals of both the US Open (2019) and Wimbledon (2025).
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How have recent Australian Open champions performed at warm-up tournaments?
Following up on Clijsters’ comments about players transitioning from warm-up tournaments to the Australian Open, recent winners suggest there is no real pattern to this.
Of the six champions since 2020, three have won tournaments prior to the Australian Open, while the other three did not.
This includes defending champion Madison Keys, who won the Adelaide International prior to lifting her first major at the Australian Open.
| Year | Australian Open women’s singles champion | How they performed in warm-up tournaments |
| 2020 | Sofia Kenin | Brisbane R16, Adelaide R16 |
| 2021 | Naomi Osaka | Melbourne SF |
| 2022 | Ash Barty | Won Adelaide |
| 2023 | Aryna Sabalenka | Won Adelaide |
| 2024 | Aryna Sabalenka | Brisbane Final |
| 2025 | Madison Keys | Auckland QF, Won Adelaide |
Although she went unbeaten in singles at the United Cup, Switzerland did not actually win the title and therefore Bencic would fall into the category with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka and Sofia Kenin if she went on to win the Australian Open title.
Despite being a contender for the Australian Open title, Bencic faces a tricky opener against former top 30 player Katie Boulter in the first round.
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