Naïma Karamoko has been named to the Swiss national team for the first time, earning a selection for the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs in Thailand.
The 29-year-old Genevan joins the squad as a specialist in doubles, replacing Belinda Bencic for the tie scheduled for November 21–22 in Nonthaburi, according to RTS.
Karamoko currently holds the 99th spot in the WTA world rankings for doubles. Her selection follows a successful season on the circuit, highlighted by a victory at the Challenger of Valencia alongside Serbian partner Dalila Jakupovic. While she has focused her professional career on doubles for the past two years, she has not competed in an official singles match since May 2025.
The addition of Karamoko completes a roster that includes Viktorija Golubic, Simona Waltert, Jil Teichmann, and Susan Bandecchi. All four of her teammates are currently ranked within the top 165 in the world in singles. Karamoko is familiar with the national team environment, having participated in the United Cup in Australia this past January alongside Bencic, Stan Wawrinka, and Jakub Paul.
Reflecting on her experience in Australia, Karamoko told 20 Minutes that she was impressed by the commitment of her teammates. “It was an incredible experience. I learned a lot by observing them closely,” she said, noting that she has “enormous respect” for their professional approach.
The team adjustment follows the announcement that Belinda Bencic has ended her season. The top-ranked Swiss player, currently 19th in the world in singles, cited “intense pain in her right foot” as the reason for her early departure from the tour. Medical evaluations revealed “several partial tears of the tibiofibular ligament,” as reported by blue News and RFJ.
Because doubles entries for major tournaments rely on the combined rankings of both partners, she is currently evaluating potential pairings for the 2027 season.
While she continues to balance the financial demands of the secondary tour with the support of private sponsors and a Geneva-based bank, Karamoko maintains her long-term ambition of competing at Roland-Garros. For now, she prepares for her debut with the Swiss team in Thailand, where the squad will face their next challenge in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs.
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