SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 14, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Belinda Bencic could not have imagined a better start to her 2026 season unless Switzerland had won the United Cup trophy instead of Poland. It almost happened.
Still, what a confidence booster it must have been for the 28-year-old Swiss champion to start the new year by winning five straight singles matches – including three Top-20 wins, against World No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, World No. 19 Elise Mertens and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek – and, then, come within one win from capturing the title of the ATP/WTA mixed teams event.
After winning four straight mixed doubles rubbers with unheralded Jakub Paul, the Swiss pair finally met their match. They lost to Poland’s undefeated duo of Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa in straight sets, which gave the Polish a 2-1 victory over Switzerland and the United Cup trophy Sunday evening on Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Afterward, Bencic received the most valuable player award during the trophy ceremony. She finished with a combined win-loss record of 9-1 in singles and mixed doubles (5-0 in singles and 4-1 in mixed doubles).
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“[It’s a] big confidence-booster,” Bencic said in her team’s final news 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.”
Swiss playing captain Stan Wawrinka paid tribute to Bencic, both on the court during the awards ceremony and in Team Switzerland’s final news conference. “Yeah, more than MVP, she’s been leading this team since day one. She’s been amazing on the court and also off the court,” he said.
“We all would like to thank you, Belinda, for everything you’re doing to help us being a better tennis player and outside. I know how difficult it is, but you show us again today what a big champion you are. Thank you very much.”
What a difference a year has made
A year ago, Bencic entered the 2025 United Cup event ranked 487th and lost to Paolini, 6-1, 6-1. This time, she returned the favor against the Italian No. 1, 6-4, 6-3. In between, Bencic won a pair of WTA Tour titles – her ninth and 10th of her career – at Abu Dhabi and Tokyo, and was also a semifinalist at Wimbledon. She finished the 2025 season with a very respectable 38-17 win-loss record across 19 tournaments played.
At the outset of this year’s 10-day United Cup tournament, few could have predicted the success Bencic would enjoy, starting in Perth and finishing in Sydney. When Wawrinka was asked to describe his team’s performance after they beat France 3-0 in their first tie, in which Bencic beat Leolia Jeanjean, 6-2, 6-4, then teamed with Paul to defeat Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 6-2, 5-7, 10-2, he bantered: “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.”
“That’s not even true,” Bencic shot back.
“That’s true. The reason we’re here is because of her and she shows us everything,” Wawrinka retorted.
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During a team trip to Kings Park and Botanical Garden in Perth, Wawrinka was presented with a graphic white t-shirt with a “Belinda’s World” design on it, which he wore on the bench during her wins against Mertens and Swiatek.
Over the course of Switzerland’s five ties, Bencic tried to keep things simple, to play her game. She won four of her five singles matches in straight sets. Only Mertens was able to take a set off of Bencic. However, the Swiss native of Flawil won the final nine points of the rubber to prevail. Against Swiatek, Bencic won 12 of the last 15 games to break a four-match losing streak against the Polish superstar, which included a straight-set loss last year at Wimbledon.
“Well, I just have to say, I mean, Stan pushes me through in my singles, then he tries to push himself through in his singles, then he pushes us over the line in the mixed,” Bencic said after the Swiss triumph over Belgium in the semifinal round. “I don’t know what to say. It’s just amazing.”
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Bencic and Paul: A formidable mixed doubles team
Looking back, Bencic and Paul proved to be a formidable team in mixed doubles. It was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
“Of course, I would love to play mixed doubles with her at the slams,” the 83rd-ranked Paul said Sunday during Team Switzerland’s news conference, smiling. “She’s got the ranking I don’t, so I need to get my ranking up first. Of course, it would be an honor to play slams with her because it’s just amazing what she does on court. It’s so much fun playing with you. Thank you for everything.”
Bencic replied, “Yeah, why not? The Olympics are coming up, so maybe.”
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With Bencic’s confidence boosted by reaching the final of the United Cup, it’s onward to the year’s first Grand Slam event at the Australian Open for her, which begins Sunday in Melbourne.
“Of course, it’s been a huge confidence boost,” Bencic said. “Playing some good matches here now, I have some days to rest and prepare [for] the new conditions. …
“Just super excited to play the first slam. I’m always just very focused on the first round. It’s going to be a new tournament. Yeah, just new focus for [the] Australian Open.”
