LUXEMBOURG (Oct. 13, 2012) — The name Belinda Bencic may be new to many tennis fans, but at only 15-years-old and already racking up ITF titles, Bencic is a Swiss star in the making and quickly paving her path onto the WTA Tour.
Receiving a wildcard into the main draw, Bencic is set to take on former world No. 1 Venus Williams in the first round of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open where her skills will be put to the ultimate test. Playing in only her fourth Tour event, and no less against a champion as great as Venus, will in no doubt reveal how well the youngster handles pressure.
Hailing from Flawil, Switzerland and currently listed at 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.73m), Bencic is currently ranked at a career-high No. 619 in singles on the WTA Tour. She won back-to-back $10,000 ITF titles in Egypt last month, en route also taking home a doubles crown. Earlier this year, she competed in two of Switzerland’s Fed Cup ties and notched a doubles win over the Belarussian team.
On the junior circuit, she was the doubles runner-up in both the 2012 Wimbledon and 2012 U.S. Open girls championships.
Bencic’s current coaching situation may also play a key role in her ascension on the WTA Tour. She is currently co-coached by Melanie Molitor, the mother and coach of multi Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1, Martina Hingis. If that’s any indication, Bencic will be a player worth keeping an eye on in the future.