Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina have entered the history books as the first mothers to be ranked simultaneously inside the Top 10 on the WTA Tour. Their rise marks a significant moment for professional tennis and for the evolving conversation around motherhood and elite sport.
Bencic, 28, returned to competition after giving birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024. Following an 11-month maternity break, the Swiss player climbed one place to ninth in the latest rankings, completing a rapid and disciplined return to the highest tier of the sport. Her trajectory underscores the physical and mental demands of re-entering top-level competition after childbirth.
Svitolina, 31, whose daughter Skaï was born in October 2022, moved up two places to 10th after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. The Ukrainian, a former World #3 with 19 singles titles, has steadily rebuilt her ranking since returning to the Tour, combining consistency with deep runs at Major tournaments.
Both players have benefited from maternity protections introduced by the WTA, which allow returning mothers to use their previous ranking to enter up to 12 tournaments over a three-year period from childbirth. The Tour has also expanded these protections, enabling players who choose to freeze eggs or embryos to retain ranking safeguards while planning families.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Novak Djokovic rose to third in the ATP Tour after reaching the Melbourne final, where he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz remains world number one, while Jannik Sinner stays second and Alexander Zverev drops to fourth.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
