Belinda Bencic claimed her second WTA title since becoming a mother by beating Linda Noskova in the Pan Pacific Open final.
Bencic, 28, who has now won ten WTA tournaments, lost the final of this event to Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets ten years ago.
But she dominated the Czech Noskova 6-2 6-3 to take the title this time.
Bencic’s other WTA victory this year came in Abu Dhabi, just ten months after the arrival of her first child – and less than four months since her return after more than a year of maternity leave.
“I feel like Tokyo and Japan are a happy place in my career, a place where I have had a lot of success and I just love being here,” said Switzerland’s Bencic, who won gold in the women’s singles at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I had a deja vu moment on the court. I had match point on the same side of the court, going for the same serve and telling myself the same things. I had goosebumps, it was really special. It’s great to win here again.”
When Bencic, a former world number four in 2020, returned to the sport in October 2024, her world ranking had fallen to 1,213.
She has risen to 13th in the rankings and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon earlier this year before being defeated by eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
“I’m really enjoying my time back on tour and I think that shows in the results,” she added.
“I couldn’t be happier and I’m absolutely surprised. This was definitely not planned.”
“It’s hard work, but it takes a lot of self-confidence and also a lot of mental belief.
“I am very happy to have this confirmation to myself that I am able to improve even my best ranking from before.”
The 20-year-old Noskova also lost the final of the China Open at the beginning of this month and wanted to strengthen her only WTA victory.
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