PICTURE: Endearing moment as Belinda Bencic's 7-month-old baby daughter Bella cheers her on as she makes a strong start in Angers

Belinda Bencic was cheered on by her 7-month-old baby daughter, as the Swiss made a strong start to her campaign in Angers.

Bencic returned to action after a one-month hiatus at the WTA 125 event in Angers. The wildcard entrant squared off against Romania's Patricia Maria Tig in the opener on Monday, December 2. She sealed an emphatic 6-4, 6-1 win to reach the Round of 16, where she will play the winner of the match between Mariam Bolkvadze and Anastasia Zakharova.

Bencic's boyfriend Hromkovic took to social media to share a picture of their daughter Bella watching her mother through the television screen as she battled it out in the hard courts of Arena Loire.

"Let's go maminka @belindabencic," Hromkovic wrote on his Instagram stories.

Martin Hromkovic's Instagram story on Monday (Source: Instagram - @hromec3)

Belinda Bencic and Martin Hromkovic have been dating since November 2018. Hromkovic, a Slovakian, was a former professional football player who now works as Bencic's fitness trainer. The couple welcomed their daughter on April 23, 2024. The WTA 125 Angers event marks Bencic's fourth tournament appearance since giving birth to Bella.

Bencic has often treated fans to special moments she shares with her daughter. Recently, the former World No. 4 posted a picture online of Bella accompanying her for a workout session. Bencic was seen doing dumbbells bent over rows while Bella lay on the mat behind her.

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"I didn't set any dates or time limits at first" - Belinda Bencic on returning to tennis after becoming a mother

Belinda Bencic at the 2024 ITF 75 tournament in Hamburg (Source: Getty)

Belinda Bencic took six months to return to the tour after becoming a mother. She made her first appearance post-pregnancy at the ITF Germany 16 A.

In a recent interview, Bencic stated that she did not want to put pressure on herself by setting a specific date for her return to action.

"It all happened faster than I could have expected. I didn’t set any dates or time limits at first, I really didn’t want to put any pressure on myself and I didn’t know what could happen," Bencic said.

The 2019 US Open semifinalist maintained that she did not have a proper response to people asking about her comeback as Bella's birth was her sole concern in the initial months.

"All I thought about was the birth of my daughter and how I would feel after everything. People kept asking me about my return, but I was never able to give them much information," she added.

At the ITF German tournament, Belinda Bencic commenced her campaign with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over Julia Avdeeva. However, her run was cut short by Anastasia Kulikova, who defeated the Swiss 6-3, 6-4.