It is rare to see history and strollers share the same headline, but that is exactly what happened this week in the WTA rankings.
Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina have both returned from maternity leave and now sit inside the WTA Top 10 at the same time, a first for the tour and a concrete result of the WTA’s recent family-focused policies.
Historic Double: Mothers In The Top 10
Two mothers ranked inside the WTA Top 10 for the first time is an incredible moment for tennis and for women’s sport,
Portia Archer
The milestone is straightforward and meaningful: Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic sits at 9 in the rankings, while Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina rejoined the top 10 after a big run in Melbourne and is listed at 10.
Bencic’s climb back is notable because she stepped away from competition in September 2023 to welcome daughter Bella, then navigated the tricky return to elite tennis within a year, a process she describes as quietly brutal and richly rewarding.
“Coming back to the WTA Top 10 one year after returning to competition after maternity leave is something I am incredibly proud of,” Bencic said, crediting family, team and relentless work for getting her back among the game’s best.
Svitolina’s route back was powered by a semifinal showing at the Australian Open, where she knocked out top players and reminded the tour that match toughness does not evaporate after parenthood.
“It’s a dream to return to the WTA Top 10,” Svitolina said, adding that “Doing it as a mother means so much to me. I’m proud of my fight and resilience.” Her words landed with the slightly exhausted joy of someone balancing diapers and deadlines.
How The WTA Helped Make It Possible
The WTA has been explicit about making space for parents on tour, rolling out its Family Focus Program and measures such as ranking protection during pregnancy, postpartum support with a return to play and paid maternity leave.
Both Bencic and Svitolina used the Special Ranking Rule available to returning mothers, a practical tool that helped smooth re-entry into the competitive calendar while their games found match rhythm again.
That policy work also included a maternity fund announced last year, showing the governing body is trying to match words with money and systems rather than hopeful PR statements alone.
Context And What It Means For The Tour
The timing comes amid an active shakeup at the top of the sport: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek remain world numbers one and two, while Elena Rybakina jumped two places to number three after winning the Australian Open title.
The rankings list also shows Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini filling spots four through eight, underscoring the depth around the new mother duo and the competitiveness they re-entered.
Bencic actually rose a spot in the latest release despite an upset second-round loss at the Australian Open to a lower-ranked Czech opponent, illustrating how sustained results and ranking protections can combine to reward a smart comeback plan.
The WTA framed the achievement as more than an anecdote. Portia Archer said the twin placements “reaffirm the WTA’s commitment to creating an environment where mothers can continue to compete and succeed, at the very highest level of sport.” That is the mission statement meeting the scoreline.
Beyond the headlines, young players watching this week saw two important messages: returning to peak performance after childbirth is possible, and institutions can change to help athletes juggle parenthood with pro ambitions.
The change is practical as well as symbolic. Australian teenager Maya Joint reached a career-high inside the top 30 at number 29, proof the rankings keep turning even as narratives about family and career evolve on tour.
Tennis has always been a game of margins, and now it is showing that margins can include maternity policies, resilience and an ability to balance coaching plans with nap schedules without losing world-class form.
Expect more players and pundits to point to this week as a moment when the sport matured a little, proving that elite athleticism and parenting are not mutually exclusive and that policy plus persistence produces results.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
