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Belinda Bencic reached her first WTA Tour final since returning from maternity leave with a surprise victory over Elena Rybakina at the Abu Dhabi Open.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Swiss former Olympic champion clinched a 3-6 6-3 6-4 triumph over world number five Rybakina in two hours and six minutes.<\/p>\n
Bencic welcomed her daughter, Bella, in April 2024, and returned from a 13-month break from the tour six months later.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old’s win over Kazakhstan’s Rybakina was her first against a top-five opponent since she became a mother, and she will face American Ashlyn Krueger in Sunday’s final.<\/p>\n
Bencic, who won the Abu Dhabi title in 2023, said reaching the final was reward for “working really hard to come back” after the birth of her first child.<\/p>\n
“It was definitely not an easy road, and I’m so excited that the results are coming so fast,” Bencic said.<\/p>\n
“It still doesn’t mean that the work is over, so I have a long way to go, but I’m really happy how it’s working on the court. I’m really enjoying myself on the court.”<\/p>\n
Ranked 1,213 in the world four months ago, Bencic is now guaranteed a return to the top 100 following the conclusion of the tournament.<\/p>\n
World number 51 Krueger, who has one WTA singles title to her name, reached the final with a straight sets victory over Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old beat the world number 39 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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