Bencic Aims to Regain Momentum at Indian Wells Following Illness

After a surprising early exit at the Australian Open and a subsequent illness, Belinda Bencic is looking to rediscover her form at the Indian Wells Masters. The Swiss player, currently ranked No. 12, begins her campaign on Saturday against Storm Hunter of Australia.

Recent Form and Challenges

Bencic enjoyed a strong start to the 2026 season, winning 12 matches following her tournament victory in Tokyo at the end of October 2025. However, her momentum was halted by a second-round loss at the Australian Open and a subsequent illness contracted in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Bencic stated 10 days later in Dubai, “how quickly you lose trust and how long it takes until you receive it back.” Bencic reached the round of 16 in Dubai, losing in three sets to Jelina Switolina.

Swiss Representation at Indian Wells

Bencic is the sole Swiss representative in the Indian Wells tournament. No Swiss players qualified for the main draw, and Stan Wawrinka, a former finalist in 2017, opted not to request a wildcard.

Past Successes at Indian Wells

Indian Wells holds positive memories for Bencic. She reached the quarterfinals in 2025 as a wildcard recipient and even advanced to the semifinals in 2019. Her current ranking is No. 11 as of February 9, 2026, according to Wikipedia.

First-Round Matchup

Bencic will face Storm Hunter (ranked WTA 234) in her opening match on Saturday.

As of October 27, 2025, Belinda Bencic has career prize money of US$ 15,643,039. She has 10 career singles titles, including a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and two doubles titles on the WTA Tour. Her career singles record is 428–222.