ADVERTISEMENT
Aryna Sabalenka hailed Belinda Bencic's Abu Dhabi triumph as "Impressive" and added that it serves as an inspiration to believe that she and others could do something similar as moms one day.
This past weekend, the Swiss tennis star - who gave birth in April and returned in late 2024 after being sidelined for 15 months - won her first WTA title as a mother after beating Ashlyn Krueger 4-6 6-1 6-1 in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi.
Just before this year's Australian Open, Sabalenka shot a video for the Australian Open.
In the video, the Belarusian - who turns 27 in May - said she was getting "old" and "closer to retirement."
Also, she noted that "I do not want to have my first kid at 35."
ADVERTISEMENT
Sabalenka on Bencic's first win as a mother
"That's impressive, honestly. She just came back, I think Australian Open she had a great run, and now she's holding the trophy," the world No. 1 said of the Swiss' Abu Dhabi victory.
"It's amazing, I'm super happy for her, she definitely deserved that.
"As she said, she worked really hard for that, and it's good to see. It gives us hope that probably, whenever were all going to go for babies, we have a chance to come back if we want to."
Meanwhile, no one was happier for Bencic than herself.
After clinching the Abu Dhabi main glory and her overall ninth WTA title, the 27-year-old admitted that it was something she badly wanted to do for her daughter.
ADVERTISEMENT
To my husband and my daughter Bella, I love you so much," she said.
It was a big dream for me to come back and play in front of her and to win the tournament.
Meanwhile, Bencic is already back to No. 65 in the world despite being ranked outside the top-1000 when she returned to tennis.
