Belinda Bencic made a surprise pregnancy announcement, upsetting fans who hoped to see her defend her Olympic gold in Paris. The 26-year-old reigning singles champion revealed she and her husband are expecting their first child, forcing her to miss the 2024 Games.

In past interviews after her Tokyo triumph, Belinda Bencic openly spoke of her motivation to compete in Paris and described the possibility of winning gold again as a “dream scenario.” She had been training hard and focusing on the 2024 Paris Olympics in her schedule. The pregnancy has dashed those aspirations for the moment, to the dismay of her fans who wanted to see her make sporting history.

Belinda Bencic’s surprise pregnancy announcement upsets fans

Sacrificing a dream is never easy. However, it is even more difficult for Belinda Bencic because the hopes and aspirations of thousands of fans rested on her shoulders. Bencic is not too upset about the upcoming phase of her life. She looks forward to becoming a mother. Even though the timing does not align with the Olympics schedule, Bencic understands the true values of life.

Bencic took to Instagram and Twitter to share photos of her ultrasound, announcing “Expecting our little miracle soon! ?? We can?t wait to meet you?” while expressing excitement about this new chapter. However, she acknowledged the timing, which means she cannot even try to win the Olympic gold consecutively. Many supporters had been looking forward to cheering her on in her quest for back-to-back gold.

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In her post, Bencic said becoming a mother is “the most important role” but also candidly admitted it is difficult accepting she cannot defend her Olympic crown as an athlete. She had been riding high on the success and memories from Tokyo Olympics 2020-2021.

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Fans show their disappointment in Bencic’s withdrawal

Responses to Bencic’s announcement showed support for the new chapter in her life while also expressing disappointment. Tennis account @iloveanisimova tweeted it was “WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK” after her “amazing run” in Japan. Fellow player Petra Kvitova offered congratulations and called Bencic an inspiration as a “strong woman.”

Her withdrawal certainly affected this fan who had high hopes of the Swiss star in the upcoming Olympics.

The surprising news had caught everyone off guard like this fan.

Some fans resorted to stating the obvious while showing their emotions via emoticons.

Many commented that they understood Bencic’s decision to focus on her family. However, they also showed their sadness over the Olympic dream. Her pregnancy has cut short those hopes and plans for now.

Belinda Bencic rose to a career-high ranking of World No. 14 in 2022 while winning other titles, cementing her status among the elite. It remains uncertain if she will make a comeback after taking maternity leave to spend time with her new family.

Regardless, she has sealed her place in sports history with a memorable gold medal in the Tokyo Olympic games. While fans had wished for more Olympic glory, Bencic’s announcement starts a new personal chapter. She will be missed in Paris, but her fans will always support her.

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