Before then, however, several players have made the trip to the UAE, for the Abu Dhabi Open WTA 500 event.

Elena Rybakina won the title in 2024, taking down Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in the final, 6-1, 6-4.

The Kazakh star was hoping to defend her title in 2025 and looked good to do so, securing wins over Katie Volynets and Ons Jabeur to advance to the semi-finals.

It was there that her dreams came to an end, however, as she lost to a player who has only recently returned to the WTA Tour after giving birth to her first child.

Belinda Bencic says the ‘work is not over’ after beating Elena Rybakina at the Abu Dhabi Open

2020 Olympic Gold medalist Belinda Bencic beat Rybakina in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to her first WTA final since returning from maternity leave at the end of 2024.

Speaking after the match, the Swiss star was delighted to have secured the win.

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

“I’ve worked so hard, really hard to come back, it was definitely not an easy road and I’m so excited that the results are coming so fast.

“It doesn’t mean that the work is over, so I 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.”

Things were tense during the latter stages of the semi-final match, as Bencic now admits she was feeling the pressure.

“It’s never easy, tennis scoring is so crazy, you never win the match until you win it, my heart was beating.

“But, you know I kind of remembered that I’m playing Elena [Rybakina], and it’s not easy to just win, you have to win a couple of times probably, so I’m happy I stayed calm.”

Bencic will now play America’s Ashlyn Krueger in the final after she took down Czech youngster Linda Noskova in the earlier semi-final.

Which WTA stars enjoyed the most success after giving birth?

Returning to play professional sports after giving birth is an incredibly tough task and not one that should be underestimated.

Naomi Osaka was criticized in 2024 for returning ‘out of shape’, following the birth of her first child by WTA legend Martina Navratilova.

The truth is that very few return to their previous heights after giving birth, although that’s not to say it’s impossible, as three WTA stars returned from maternity leave to win Grand Slam titles.

Margaret Court wins 1973 Australian Open, 1973 French Open, 1973 US Open

Margaret Court became the first mother to win a Major title when she won the Australian Open in 1973.

She then remarkably set her sights on the Calendar Grand Slam, taking home the title at Roland Garros just a few months later.

It wasn’t to be, however, as she lost to Chris Evert in a thrilling three-set semi-final at SW19.

Court was able to bounce back and win in New York, picking up her 24th and final Major title, and her third as a mother.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley wins 1980 Wimbledon

45 years ago, tennis saw a mother win Wimbledon for the first time, as Evonne Goolagong Cawley took down Evert in straight sets.

The title was the Australian’s seventh at a Major tournament, as she finally got the job done in London after years of heartbreak.

She won just one more match at Wimbledon after winning in 1980, retiring from tennis just three years later, as one of her nation’s greatest-ever players.

Kim Clijsters wins 2009 US Open, 2010 US Open, 2011 Australian Open

Belgian star Kim Clijsters returned from maternity leave in 2009 and shocked the tennis world by winning the US Open in just her third tournament back.

Returning in 2010, she defended her title with a dominant performance in the final over Russia’s Vera Zvonareva.

Carrying the momentum through to the new year, Clijsters beat Li Na to win her first Grand Slam title out of New York, as she won the 2011 Australian Open.

Retiring as a four-time Major champion, Clijsters proved that it is still possible to achieve Grand Slam glory after giving birth.

Bencic will perhaps take inspiration from Court, Goolagong-Cawley, and Clijsters when she takes on Krueger in the Abu Dhabi Open final on Saturday, February 8.

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