Tennis Pro Belinda Bencic Shares Swimsuit Photo on "Vacation"
John Peck Belinda Bencic is hiding her baby bump in a bathing suit. In a new social media post the tennis pro shows off her amazing body in a swimsuit and Missoni pants, while vacationing in the tropics. "Not as easy to take vacation bikini pics nowadays," she captioned the series of Instagram snaps. "But as always well equipped with @bongeniegrieder @missoni." Her followers had a lot to say about the photos. While some begged to see the bump while others commented on how great she looks. "Baddie," commented one. "Being pregnant is beautiful and empowering. Show it off and be proud!" added another. How does the athlete approach health and wellness? Celebwell rounded up her top lifestyle habits.
"I'm currently doing interval training on the track with 100 meter sprints down the straights and jogging round the corners," Belinda told Express UK. "It tires me out quickly but I'm getting better at it.
"I've been working on footwork, which is really important for me, as on the court you have to move well. I use a ladder," she added to Express UK. "I place the ladder on the floor and use it to do a number of footwork drills in and out to help my agility."
"I do strength training that focuses on the arms and shoulders with exercises on the shoulder press and using the medicine ball," Belinda said. "It's not all about being strong though, I need to have quick movements as power can also come from the speed of the arm so I stretch a lot using elastic resistance bands specially designed for building movement speed."
Belinda does multiple workouts a day. "Training during the off-season always involves two tennis sessions and one fitness session in the gym," she told Express. "I start with practice on court for two hours in the morning from 9am to 11am. I mainly focus on drills where I hit a lot of balls, typically feeding drills. In the afternoon I start back on the court again at 2pm and do match simulation."
Belinda stresses the importance of hydration. "Training and playing in hot climates mean staying hydrated is critical. I drink a lot of water but also sports drinks with electrolytes to help with recovery and replenishment," she said. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydration is important for a variety of reasons. Water helps get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements, keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues.
Belinda isn't a fan of Andy Murray's cooldown method. "After training I try to avoid the ice bath. A light jog and plenty of stretching helps me to wind down," she said. "Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints," says Harvard Health. "Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage."
