Australian Open: Belinda Bencic on Managing Motherhood and Tennis Career

Belinda Bencic is seeking advice from Roger Federer on managing parenthood and her tennis career as she prepares for the Australian Open.

Belinda Bencic is navigating the challenges of returning to the WTA Tour as a new parent, but she's seeking guidance from a fellow Swiss tennis great, Roger Federer. Bencic, 27, and her partner, Martin Hromkovic, welcomed their daughter Bella in April. After a brief hiatus, Bencic returned to action in October, competing in the Billie Jean King Cup and several lower-level tournaments.

As Bencic prepares for her Grand Slam return at the Australian Open, she's drawing on the experiences of other mothers on the tour, as well as Federer, her former mixed doubles partner. Federer, now retired, has four children, including two sets of twins. Bencic revealed that she's been seeking his counsel on managing parenthood and tennis. “We talk from time to time. Of course, he has four kids so that's a whole different situation,” Bencic told reporters at Melbourne Park on Saturday.

Belinda Bencic has been seeking parenting tips from Roger Federer, and she's been impressed by how he managed his family logistics during his playing career. “I saw them at the Hopman Cup and also in the Grand Slams, and it's just impressive how the whole logistics work with them. I think that's something we can pick up from and learn from but for now, I think we're managing it really good,” Bencic said.

As Bencic navigates her first Grand Slam as a mother, she's using the Australian Open as a test run for managing her new responsibilities. “Here in Australia, it's a test for us. It's our first long trip and I think we're seeing how we are managing everything,” she explained. Bencic has already gained some competitive experience in Australia, playing in the United Cup mixed team event and reaching the second round at Adelaide.

Bencic will face a tough challenge in her Australian Open opener, meeting former French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko at Melbourne Park. Despite the daunting task, Bencic is well-prepared and eager to take on the competition.