Who Is Belinda Bencic? Olympic Champion Eyes Another Deep Wimbledon Run

July 3, 2026 / Liam Redmond /

Belinda Bencic reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the fifth time in her career after avenging her recent Italian Open defeat to Anna Kalinskaya, continuing an impressive campaign as the Swiss star chases another deep run at the All England Club.

Belinda Bencic is back in the second week at Wimbledon after gaining revenge over one of the few players to beat her this season.

The Swiss No. 11 seed defeated Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(6) in a gripping third-round contest on Friday, overturning her loss to the Russian at the Italian Open in May. The victory sends Bencic into the Wimbledon fourth round for the fifth time in her career and keeps alive her hopes of building on last year’s semifinal run.

Bencic Avenges Rome Defeat

Bencic entered Friday’s match with unfinished business after Kalinskaya defeated her on clay in Rome earlier this year. On the grass courts of the All England Club, however, the Swiss star produced a composed performance to reverse that result.

After taking the opening set, Bencic was forced into a decider when Kalinskaya fought back to level the match. The former Olympic champion held her nerve in a tense final-set tiebreak to seal victory and continue her unbeaten run at this year’s Championships after straight-set wins over Britain’s Mika Stojsavljevic and China’s Wang Xinyu in the opening two rounds.

Fifth Trip to Wimbledon Round of 16

The victory marks Bencic’s fifth appearance in the Wimbledon fourth round, underlining her consistency on grass.

The 29-year-old first reached the Round of 16 in 2015 before returning to that stage in 2018 and 2023, but each campaign ended there. She finally broke through that barrier last year, advancing to the semifinals for her best-ever Wimbledon result and matching the deepest Grand Slam run of her career.

Her latest victory ensures another place in the tournament’s second week as she looks to go even further this year.

Olympic Champion and Former World No. 4

Bencic has been one of Switzerland’s most accomplished tennis players over the past decade.

She captured the women’s singles gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and later climbed to a career-high ranking of world No. 4. Throughout her career, she has collected multiple WTA titles and established herself as one of the tour’s most consistent performers, particularly on faster surfaces.

Bencic has also become a notable comeback story after returning to professional tennis following the birth of her daughter, quickly re-establishing herself among the world’s top players.

Olympic Gold Headlines Stellar Career

Bencic has enjoyed one of the most accomplished careers among active players on the WTA Tour.

The Swiss star won the women’s singles gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and later climbed to a career-high ranking of World No. 4. Known for her clean ball striking and tactical consistency, she has established herself as one of the tour’s most reliable performers across all surfaces, particularly on grass.

Her return to top-level tennis following the birth of her daughter has been one of the sport’s standout comeback stories. Since returning to competition, Bencic has steadily climbed back up the rankings and re-established herself among the world’s elite.

Eyes Another Deep Wimbledon Run

Bencic now heads into the fourth round with momentum firmly on her side as she continues her pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam singles title.

Liam Redmond

As an editor at Forbes Europe, I specialize in exploring business innovations and entrepreneurial success stories. My passion lies in delivering impactful content that resonates with readers and sparks meaningful conversations.