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Bencic & Svitolina Make History in Top 10

BBC Sport •
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In a historic moment for women's tennis, Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina have become the first mothers to simultaneously rank within the world's top 10. Bencic, who gave birth in April 2024, climbed to ninth. Svitolina, mother to a child born in 2022, moved up to tenth after a strong performance at the Australian Open.

Returning mothers benefit from a WTA rule allowing them to use their previous ranking for 12 tournaments over three years. Bencic expressed immense pride in her accomplishment, highlighting the difficulty of balancing motherhood and professional tennis. Svitolina echoed the sentiment, emphasizing her pride and gratitude for fan support. This achievement reflects the changing dynamics in women's professional sports.

On the men's side, Novak Djokovic rose to third in the ATP rankings. Though he fell short in the finals, his performance in Melbourne secured his position. Carlos Alcaraz, who won the tournament, remains at number one. This reshuffling of the rankings underscores the competitive nature of the sport and the players' resilience.

The success of Bencic and Svitolina offers inspiration to other mothers. Their ability to compete at the highest level while raising families is a testament to their dedication and the progress being made in supporting female athletes. Tennis fans will be eager to see how they perform throughout the season.