Belinda Bencic +63 in WTA Rankings as she helps Madison Keys hit milestone

Oli Dickson Jefford 07 Feb 2025 6:10 PM

Belinda Bencic and Madison Keys

Belinda Bencic is set to soar back into the top 100 of the WTA Rankings after stunning reigning champion Elena Rybakina at the Abu Dhabi Open.

Just 10 months after welcoming her first child, and only three months after her first match back, Bencic rallied from a set down to stun world No 5 and top seed Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The Swiss had initially held two match points at 5-2, 40-15 up in the deciding set, but held firm to hold off the Kazakh’s fightback.

“I’m so happy that this is happening,” said Bencic.

“For sure, I worked really hard to come back [from maternity leave], it wasn’t an easy road, and I’m so excited that the results are coming so fast.

“It still doesn’t mean the work is over, I still have a long way to go, but I’m really happy with how it’s working on the court and I’m really enjoying myself on the court.”

It will be the 19th career final for the 27-year-old, who previously reached a high of world No 4 in February 2020.

Bencic will be looking to win her ninth career title when she faces Ashlyn Krueger in a surprise final on Saturday, and will hope to secure her second Abu Dhabi Open crown.

The Swiss triumphed in her last appearance at the tournament back in 2023, beating Liudmila Samsonova; it was the last title she won before announcing her pregnancy later that year.

Bencic was unranked when she returned in November 2024, having welcomed daughter Bella just seven months prior.

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However, after an impressive run to the fourth round of the Australian Open, this run to the final of a WTA 500 event is set to propel her back inside the top 100.

Currently ranked 157th in the world, the 27-year-old has leapt 63 places to world No 94 in the WTA Live Rankings.

Should she beat Krueger to lift the title on Saturday, she would move back inside the world’s top 70 – potentially as high as world No 64.

Krueger herself is set to crack the top 40 for the first time thanks to her run to the final, and would be inside the world’s top 35 should she lift the title.

Bencic’s win – or, more appropriately, Rybakina’s loss – also spells good news for US star and recent Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Following her triumph in Melbourne, 29-year-old Keys returned to her former career-high ranking of world No 7.

However, with Rybakina dropping 3o5 points after failing to match her run to the title in 2024, the US star is set to reach a new career-high of world No 6 on Monday.

Rybakina’s points drop is also advantageous for Jessica Pegula, who will move up to fifth in the WTA Rankings; the Kazakh will fall two places to world No 7.

That will mean there are three US women inside the top six of the rankings, led by world No 3 Coco Gauff.