There’s a sense of nostalgia surrounding Team Switzerland at next week’s United Cup, as Belinda Bencic and Stan Wawrinka join forces for the first time in three years.
At the inaugural edition of the mixed-team event in 2023, Wawrinka served as both player and captain, while Bencic was the team’s highest-ranked singles player.
It’s the same scenario three years on, with Wawrinka taking on the role of playing captain and Bencic again the team’s leading singles player, ranked one place higher, at world No.11, than she was three years prior.
The only difference is that Wawrinka and Bencic – who are joined on Team Switzerland by Jakub Paul, Luca Castelnuovo and Naima Karamoko – reunite at vastly different junctures in their careers.
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Wawrinka is winding down, declaring 2026 his last season on tour after a glittering pro career of more than 20 years. Bencic is ramping up, recognised at the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year thanks to ending the season – which she began at world No.487 – on the brink of the top 10, all while travelling on tour as a new mother.
When Switzerland competes in Perth against France and Italy in Group C, fans have twice the number of reasons to buy tickets or tune in: they can watch a resurgent star in full flight while simultaneously farewelling one of the game’s great champions.
“Every book needs an ending,” three-time major champion Wawrinka posted on social media earlier in December.
“It’s time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour.
“I still want to push my limits and finish this journey on the best note possible. I still have dreams in this sport.
“I’ve enjoyed every part of what tennis has given me, especially the emotions I feel playing in front of you. I’m looking forward to seeing you one more time, all around the world.”
One of those dreams would be another trophy for Switzerland in a career that has seen Wawrinka enjoy enormous representative success. He combined with countryman Roger Federer to win men’s doubles gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, six years before he and Federer joined forces to help Switzerland win its first Davis Cup.
In Perth, the now 40-year-old will captain and compete alongside Bencic, another player who achieved national glory when she led Switzerland to the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup trophy, a year after winning women’s singles gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
With such a history of success when donning Swiss colours, both Wawrinka and Bencic will be motivated to translate that to the United Cup. In two previous appearances, in 2023 and 2025, the team has finished second in its group and not progressed to the knockout stage.
Bencic has the form and confidence behind her to help change that. The 28-year-old captured a late-season title at the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo, her second title of 2025 after she triumphed in Abu Dhabi in February.
Those trophies came either side of her run to the Wimbledon semifinals, her best performances at a major in almost six years.
Bencic is set to take part in a blockbuster against top-10 star Jasmine Paolini of Italy – scheduled for the evening of 4 January – a day after facing Roland Garros breakout star Lois Boisson. Wawrinka, meanwhile, takes on France’s Arthur Rinderknech and Flavio Cobolli of Italy, both players who shot up the rankings in 2025.
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Should the Swiss prevail and move on to the quarterfinals, and possibly beyond, it would mark the latest success in Bencic’s upward trajectory while serving as a memorable farewell to the competition for Wawrinka.
Fans are in for a treat when Team Switzerland hit RAC Arena for the first time on 3 January.
