Switzerland's Billie Jean King Cup team is in Seville gearing up for their title defense next week with their star player Belinda Bencic entrenched in the squad.
Bencic raised plenty of eyebrows this week with the surprise news she shared with the tennis fraternity of her pregnancy. The World No. 14 posted on social media a picture of herself and her partner Martin Hromkovic, who is also her fitness coach, holding baby shoes with the caption: Expecting our little miracle soon! We can’t wait to meet you.
Bencic was an integral member of the Swiss team that won their maiden Billie Jean King Cup title last autumn, winning all of her six singles matches. She defeated Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the decisive match in the final in Glasgow 12 months ago.
By virtue of being crowned champions last year, Switzerland automatically qualified for the Finals in Seville, Spain, this year. They've been pitted in the same group as a star-studded Czech team and an understrength USA squad reeling from the absences of Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys.
Switzerland captain Heinz Guenthardt, who has previously worked with former WTA No. 1s such as Steffi Graf and Ana Ivanovic, saw no reason to drop Bencic from the team in light of Friday's news. Bencic can relate to legendary American Serena Williams who famously won the 2017 Australian Open while being two months pregnant.
Switzerland has won eight of their last nine ties at the BJKC - with their only defeat in that run coming in the 2021 Final in Prague. They are currently the top-ranked side in the competition. In addition to Bencic, they have retained two of their title-winning team members.
These are Jil Teichmann, who has fallen outside the world's Top 100 in 2023, and in-form Viktorija Golubic - winner of three titles this season including the 125K event in Rouen. It will be interesting to see whether Bencic will play any part considering she was reportedly injured after the tournament in San Diego in mid-September.
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