Belinda Bencic Claims Her World with United Cup MVP
From Perth’s opening sweep to Sydney’s tense final, Belinda Bencic dominated the 2026 United Cup with a flawless singles run, turning team banter into triumphant reality as Switzerland reached the championship match.
In Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, the air thick with anticipation, Belinda Bencic lifted the United Cup MVP trophy on January 12, 2026. Her 9-1 record, capped by a perfect 5-0 in singles, had carried Switzerland to their first final, two top-10 victories etching her name deeper into the hard-court narrative. Fresh from maternity leave, she reentered the PIF WTA top 10, her game a blend of rediscovered fire and tactical poise that silenced doubts about her swift return.
“it’s been a great day for us thanks to Belinda to play so well and to show us the way. We are just living in Belinda’s world, so we’re enjoying that.”
Switzerland’s 3-0 rout of France on January 3 in Perth kicked off the tournament, Bencic’s straight-sets win over Leolia Jeanjean setting a commanding tone on the outdoor hard courts. Her heavy topspin forehand carved through rallies, while in mixed doubles with Jakub Paul, crosscourt volleys sealed the sweep. Captain Stan Wawrinka coined the phrase that would define the run, his words lightening the weight of her comeback after ranking as low as No. 487 a year earlier.
Perth opener ignites comeback fire
The banter masked deeper stakes for Bencic, who had endured a double breadstick loss to Jasmine Paolini at the 2025 United Cup. By late 2025, victories in Abu Dhabi and Tokyo—her ninth and tenth WTA titles—lifted her to No. 11 and earned Comeback Player of the Year honors. In Perth’s sun-drenched conditions, where the ball bounced higher, she rebuilt rhythm match by match, her slice backhands keeping opponents off-balance in extended exchanges.
Quarterfinal nerves peaked against Paolini, now No. 8, but Bencic reversed the script with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph, using deep second serves to set up inside-in forehands that pinned the Italian deep. The crowd’s energy shifted as she followed with a mixed doubles clincher alongside Paul, advancing Switzerland. Wawrinka grinned post-match, reinforcing the mantra: “Well, [we’re] living in Belinda’s world again. She’s showing us why we’re here again.”
Team rituals amplified the momentum during a Perth outing to Kings Park and Botanical Garden, where Wawrinka received a “Belinda’s World” t-shirt. Bencic pressed him playfully to wear it in Sydney. “it’s the least I expect. I mean, how do you treat a gift like that,” she said.
Wawrinka’s response sealed the pact. “You sure? Okay, done deal. I will be wearing it in Sydney when she’s playing. No pressure, but now you have to keep playing that good.”
Sydney shifts demand tactical grit
Transitioning to Sydney’s indoor hard courts quickened the pace, the lower bounce favoring precise placement over raw power. In the quarterfinals against Solana Sierra, Bencic’s down-the-line backhands exploited crosscourt setups, securing straight sets and preserving her singles streak. Wawrinka honored his promise, the t-shirt a visible emblem of the team’s unity amid knockout pressure.
Semifinal tension against Elise Mertens tested her resolve, the Belgian’s topspin forehands pushing the match to a third-set tiebreak on the slick surface. Two points from defeat, Bencic reeled off the last nine points, blending short angles with underspin slices to disrupt Mertens’ positioning and claim a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(0) victory. The arena’s roar built with each point, her mental edge turning potential heartbreak into propulsion toward the final.
The championship clash with Poland delivered her first win over Iga Swiatek in more than four years, Bencic capturing 12 of the final 15 games in a three-set battle before a pro-Polish crowd. She varied pace with drop shots and inside-out forehands to pull Swiatek wide, then attacked open courts with passing shots. Though the deciding mixed doubles loss denied the title, her performance erased lingering shadows from past encounters.
MVP honor fuels Australian Open charge
At the trophy presentation, Bencic’s speech centered on praising Poland and her Swiss teammates, her selflessness underscoring the run’s emotional core. Wawrinka, in his final ATP Tour year, captured the collective awe. “It was something really special that we [had] together, especially because of one person, Belinda. We all know we’re living in Belinda’s world. Belinda, thank you for what you’re doing on the court. Thank you for what you’re doing off the court. You still came back so quick, so fast to that high level. This is so impressive to watch.”
The MVP nod, despite the bittersweet finish, boosted her ahead of the Australian Open on similar hard courts. “ [It’s a] big confidence booster,” Bencic reflected in the team press conference. “You start the year, and you’re just trying to get matches in. Obviously, it’s been great playing match after match, but being pushed so much from everyone. Also super happy to be in the top 10 now. I think it’s been a huge goal, maybe a huge ride after the whole comeback, to come back and prove this to myself, that it’s possible. We keep on going.”
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From Perth’s lively outdoors to Sydney’s controlled indoors, Bencic’s adaptations—reliable one–two serves transitioning to aggressive returns—positioned her for Melbourne’s demands. The United Cup’s intensity sharpened her edge, transforming “Belinda’s World” from playful chant to a foundation for deeper runs in 2026.
