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By JUAN CARLOS CORDERO, UNO International News Service. Pictures by Bianca Carolina Cordero Ramirez and agencies.
BELINDA BENCIC WINS THE ROGERS CUP FINAL, SIMONA HALEP ABANDONED THE MATCH IN THE THIRD SET, 7-6, 6-7, 3-0 in 2 hours and 17 minutes. She has won a cheque for $ 485,000 dollars and raise to No. 12 at WTA Rankings
BELINDA BENCIC WINS THE ROGERS CUP FINAL, SIMONA HALEP ABANDONED THE MATCH IN THE THIRD SET, 7-6, 6-7, 3-0 in 2 hours and 17 minutes. She has won a cheque for $ 485,000 dollars and raise to No. 12 at WTA Rankings
The 18-year old Swiss defeated three former and current WTA No. 1 of the world: Danish Caroline Wozniacki, then Serbian Ana Ivanovic and on Saturday's semifinal overcame American Serena Williams 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, who has dominated the women's tennis tour for the last five years.Also, Canadian prodigy Eugenie Bouchard and Sabine Lisicki, a protege of Martina Hingis, her advisor, fell under her spell of stylish and powerful game. She was with a great flow, in the Zone as a mindful athlete.
Bencic confesses: "I always told myself it is Serena Williams. I am not going to expect she is going to hand me the match. I expected that she is going to put up a great fight. Obviously, she did a lot of turnaround like this. I remember watching the match where she played in the US Open against Azarenka.. I was actually in the US Open, and Azarenka has a 5-3 in the third, and it was a kind of similar that our semifinal here in Toronto. So I remember that it is totally normal that she would come back., and I just have to push through somehow and just try to win. I do not have any idea how I did play, actually. I can't remember (laugh)""
With this win in Toronto, Belinda Bencic won his first major tournament, raise from No. 20 to No. 12 and be seeded at US Open Series. She has also won 25 of her last matches. As a junior, she completed 39 victories in a row, being Wimbledon and Roland Garros Junior Champion, and semifinalist at US Open junior.
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Bencic confesses: "I always told myself it is Serena Williams. I am not going to expect she is going to hand me the match. I expected that she is going to put up a great fight. Obviously, she did a lot of turnaround like this. I remember watching the match where she played in the US Open against Azarenka.. I was actually in the US Open, and Azarenka has a 5-3 in the third, and it was a kind of similar that our semifinal here in Toronto. So I remember that it is totally normal that she would come back., and I just have to push through somehow and just try to win. I do not have any idea how I did play, actually. I can't remember (laugh)""
With this win in Toronto, Belinda Bencic won his first major tournament, raise from No. 20 to No. 12 and be seeded at US Open Series. She has also won 25 of her last matches. As a junior, she completed 39 victories in a row, being Wimbledon and Roland Garros Junior Champion, and semifinalist at US Open junior.
Belinda Bencic
- Residence: Wollerau, Switzerland
- Date of Birth: 10 Mar 1997
- Birthplace: Flawil, Switzerland
- Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
- Weight: 139 lbs. (63 kg)
- Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
- Status: Pro
- Official Site
12
Singles RankingSwitzerland
Belinda Bencic Biography
Coached by father, Ivan and occasionally Melanie Molitor (mother of Martina Hingis); started playing ...
Read moreStats
| YTD | Career | |
| WTA Singles Titles | 2 | 2 |
| WTA Doubles Titles | 2 | 2 |
| ITF Women's Circuit Singles Titles | 0 | 2 |
| ITF Women's Circuit Doubles Titles | 0 | 2 |
| Prize Money | $1,175,186 | $1,938,975 |
| W/L - Singles | 31 - 17 | 127 - 64 |
| W/L - Doubles | 12 - 7 | 27 - 16 |
Results
TORONTO
WTA // CANADA // 10-Aug-2015 // $2,377,305 // Hard (Outdoor) // Draw: 64M/64Q/32D // Rank: - // Seed/Entry: /MD| Round | Result | Opponent | Rank | Score |
| R64 | Win | Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) | 25 | 6-0 5-7 6-2 |
| R32 | Win | [4] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) | 5 | 7-5 7-5 |
| R16 | Win | Sabine Lisicki (GER) | 24 | 6-1 1-6 7-6 (3) |
| Q | Win | [5] Ana Ivanovic (SRB) | 6 | 6-4 6-2 |
| S | Win | [1] Serena Williams (USA) | 1 | 3-6 7-5 6-4 |
| F | Win | [2/W] Simona Halep (ROU) | 3 | 7-6 (5) 6-7 (4) 3-0 RET |
WTA Rankings PTS
+900
+900
Prize Money
$490,200
$490,200
Rankings
| Singles | Road to Singapore | Doubles |
| 12 | 12 | 70 |
| Career-high Singles | Career-high Doubles |
| 17-Aug-2015 (12) | 17-Aug-2015 (70) |
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BELINDA BENCIC WINS THE ROGERS CUP FINAL, SIMONA HALEP ABANDONED THE MATCH IN THE THIRD SET, 7-6, 6-7, 3-0
TORONTO – In a surprising turn of events, top-seeded Serena Williams won’t be playing in Sunday’s Rogers Cup final.
The tennis star was hamstrung by service problems and inconsistent play in the evening match against Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic on Centre Court. Williams has been dominant this season – winning the first three Grand Slams this year – but a rare off-night left her with a 43-2 mark on the season.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Q. Simona, you showed tremendous fight once again today. When did you feel your injury start? Was it during the Errani match or did it just happen today?
SIMONA HALEP: Today. In the first set I felt a little bit muscle and then it was going to the knee. And in the second set I felt bad, like stomach cramps and dizzy and stuff like that.
Q. And when you finished the second set tiebreak and you had the forward momentum, did you feel then that even with the injury that you felt the momentum, you played great, you found your forehand that you could maybe finish the match or did you even think then that I need like a miracle to finish it out?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I was thinking that I need a miracle to finish the match. I know that I have no power. So I tried just to finish the match, but at 3‑0 I said it is no sense to continue, and I stopped.
Q. And what outside of that for this whole week where you showed your fight would you take from this week besides getting healthy and resting up for the US Open, that you can take as a positive for how you played and fought this week?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, this week was a great week for me. I played big matches, I can say with tough players, top players. I had great victories. So I take only the positives. It happens‑‑ sometimes it happens just to feel bad on court and I couldn't change anything. So it's fine and I'm looking forward for the next tournament and to recover myself.
Q. You played Belinda last year. In what way did she improve the most during one year?
SIMONA HALEP: I think she's stronger. She's moving better. And she hits the ball better. I didn't watch her too much. I played on grass, so it was difficult to see many things because it's different tennis on hardcourt. So yeah, I think she's better than last year and she can improve more.
Q. Simona, you said that making the final it seemed almost like a bonus, you maybe didn't expect it at the beginning. So now are you disappointed by the results or how everything played out today or are you positive? I mean where is your head right now?
SIMONA HALEP: I'm positive, because if I did like took the second set like how I was, I think it's a big positive thing for me. I didn't play my best. I couldn't be there. And still I won the second set.
She's a great player. She played well, so I'm not disappointed because I stopped the match. No, I'm not disappointed because I lost the match, because I am disappointed that I stopped the match. I'm not used to give up the matches, and I don't like this way. But today it was too much. It wasn't about injury. It was like myself, my body. So I decided too late, I think it was late I decided to stop.
Q. And at 3‑5 in that second set what were you telling yourself, because watching it it was almost like, you know, why try to push it into a third set? You know, you didn't look well out there at all.
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah. I don't know why I continued to play. Maybe for the fans. They were like screaming all the time to push me to still play.
I have no idea why I still played the second set, but I did great, and I'm happy that I could‑‑ you know, I could find the power to win the second set.
Q. Do you think the illness was triggered by the injury? And how did you feel it start to come on? Have you ever experienced anything like that before?
SIMONA HALEP: No. It's different. The injury is my leg, and I felt bad inside of myself, so cramps, stomach cramps and, you know, from the heat maybe. So it was different.
Q. I realize before you started the game you came out already injured, or you felt not good before the start of the game.
SIMONA HALEP: Where did you see me?
Q. When you came on the court, you were walking, not concentrated on the game.
SIMONA HALEP: I don't know.
Q. Maybe it was a result of this injury.
SIMONA HALEP: I was okay when I went on court. I mean I was tired because I had big matches before. But I knew that I have enough power to play the match. But you know, during the match it was difficult because I felt I started to feel bad.
Q. How do you think you're going to prepare for the US Open? What's the next couple of weeks going to be for you do you think coming out of this injury?
SIMONA HALEP: First I have to recover in a few days. Then I'm thinking to play Cincinnati, because I have a bye, so I have enough time to recover. But we will see.
Then I am entered on the New Haven tournament. And then US Open. So and I don't change anything right now. So I will see next days.
Q. And you talked about the fans, them pushing you. I guess what was the support like for you this week here in Toronto from clearly a lot of Romanian supporters?
SIMONA HALEP: I feel that they appreciate my game. They appreciate that how I fight here during the matches, and I really like to play in front of them because they are really supporting me. They are screaming my name. They are screaming many words in Romanian, so it was funny today the chair umpire said thank you in Romanian. So yeah, it was funny. So it was really nice and I enjoyed a lot this tournament.
Q. Simona, as you mentioned you're scheduled to play three straight weeks going into the US Open. Is there any concern that if you do all of them you might not have enough left for New York?
SIMONA HALEP: It's long time till New York, so I have just to take day by day to see how I feel, how I play. If I played here final, doesn't mean that next week I will play again final. So we will see.
I have no answer now, right now because I'm not sure what is going to happen in the future next days.
Q. Simona, what did this week kind of tell you with respect to your preparation and what you may not expect, but where your game is I guess right now for the next few weeks?
SIMONA HALEP: I think I have a good game right now, and my body is okay. I run well during the point, and I recover very well after the big points. So I feel that I'm ready to start to play a Grand Slam. You know, I have two more weeks, so it's enough time to prepare myself better.
But like I said at home I didn't practice too much because I had the break, I wanted to take a break. So every day is important, and every day I will take like an improvement.
“I can’t describe the feeling right now,” Bencic said. “I was very overwhelmed from the situation on the court, but I’m just so happy the (winning) forehand landed in and she couldn’t reach it anymore.
“It was an incredible feeling. I have no words.”
Bencic will play second-seeded Simona Halep in the final at the US$2.51-million tournament. Halep beat 15th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy 6-4, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
With nerves and tension building, Bencic nearly let the third set slip away. She stormed out to a 5-1 lead but Williams picked up two breaks – sealing the second one on a double-fault – to get back on serve.
The 18-year-old was as surprised as anyone in the near-capacity crowd at the 8,000-seat venue. A wide-eyed Bencic put her hands to her face and squatted down as the crowd roared.
The two players smiled as they shook hands and Bencic cried tears of joy in her courtside chair as fireworks went off in the distance.
“This is why I worked for 15 years,” she said. “I mean the practice is not always easy. It was hard, it was tough. Sometimes I didn’t want to and sometimes you feel very motivated. And all this work paid off today I think and this feeling is indescribable.”
The right-handed Williams played with a bandaged middle finger on her left hand. She called it a ‘sprain,’ suffered after she slipped and fell in her quarter-final win over Roberta Vinci a night earlier.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Q. You played a beautiful game, and we're very proud. And you did come through today.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, definitely. I can't describe the feeling right now. I was very overwhelmed from the situation on the court, but I'm just so happy the forehand landed in and she couldn't reach it anymore. It was an incredible feeling. I have no words.
Q. At what moment in the match did you say to yourself, okay, she's just another player on the court and I can win this match? Was it during the second set? Was it during the first set or even at the start of the match? When did you realize this is what it is and I can do this tonight?
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean I always go to the court, and I believe that I can win the match somehow, but of course, it's very different against Serena Williams, especially I got killed in the beginning. It was 5‑1 in a very short time, and I was a little bit‑‑ I was not nervous, but she just didn't let me in the match. And then I just tried to fight for every point.
I called my dad for on‑court coach, and he told me the same. And I just tried to hang in there, and in the second set I think I did very well and to just somehow close out very tight. And I had 5‑1. I was‑‑ it was so tough to close it out, and I mean every match is so tough, but especially against Serena Williams, it's something else, and yeah I'm just very proud that somehow I could recover myself and at 5‑4 to close it out.
Q. What did you tell yourself when you had that double fault and it became 5‑4? What did you tell yourself on the changeover that settled yourself down and was able to have you be calm and you hit that great backhand to setup your forehand? What did you tell yourself to get you in that mindset you could close her out then?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. During the double fault I was very nervous in that moment, but I told myself today is my chance and I really have to stay focused and be mentally tough, even if I didn't do it on the first try.
But of course, I think it's normal. I think everyone would be so nervous. And yeah.
Q. Belinda, you're talking about a lot about fighting on the court and taking everything one point at a time but a lot of the other players have said you're very smart on court, that tactically you know how to change tactics and read the game. So just from a tactical perspective, how did that match play out for you, and did you make any adjustments in the middle to kind of change things around?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I of course tried to have always a good tactic when I go to the court. I think it's my weapon. I may not have the most powerful game or something. But I try to find the weakness in the opponent's game. And I think today it was for sure just to keep my game‑‑ in the first set I was focusing too much what I have to do, and I forgot to play myself, you know, and then I tried to serve her to the backhand, obviously.
I mean her forehand is amazing. Yeah, just to move her around and keep hanging in there. Obviously she wasn't serving as great as she normally does. But I think I tried to read her serve also‑‑ I mean I read it better in the end, and I was returning sometimes very good return on the big points. So I think that helped me a lot. And yeah.
Q. How aware were you in the third set when Serena was really pumping herself up and getting into it? How conscious were you when she was clawing back point by point?
BELINDA BENCIC: I always told myself it's Serena Williams. I'm not going to expect she's going to hand to me the match. I expect that she's going to put up a great fight. Obviously she did a lot of turnaround like this.
I remember watching the match where she played in the US Open against Azarenka. I was actually in the stands, and Azarenka had 5‑3 in the third, and it was kind of similar to today, so I remember that it's totally normal that she would come back, and I just have to push through somehow and just try to win.
Q. Belinda, how would you assess your level today in terms of matches? Is it one of the best you've ever played, and in terms of just competing and hanging in there?
BELINDA BENCIC: I have no idea how I played, actually. I can't remember. (Laughs). I don't know. I just‑‑ you know, in that moment you really don't think about that. You just want to win point by point even if it's really ugly. And in the end it was just so loud, and I didn't think anything. So I think I was mentally very good today to fight through. I'm very proud of that, and I will see a video of how I played.
Q. How different is it you playing her when she's not serving well compared to when she's serving well?
BELINDA BENCIC: Well, of course, she doesn't ace you all the time, so it's good for you. I think I read her serve also very good sometimes, so she was kind of maybe not‑‑ not as comfortable as she was in the start. I mean in the start she served very good, and then just came out of the rhythm. My serve was also very so‑so today, I would say, and yeah, I mean it's a good advantage, of course.
Q. You talked about nerves. Are there obviously you would be pretty nervous, about to close out Serena. And then when it was 5‑4 you slammed the racquet on the floor. How much did that‑‑
BELINDA BENCIC: But she did too; right? (Laughs). I just slammed it. I didn't break it.
Q. Okay. You didn't break it. So how much did that like sort of relieve you and sort of maybe calm you down for that next game?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I mean I'm not thinking when I do it. It just happens. Just my automatic reaction. I have no idea. I have no explanation. But just sometimes the anger needs to go out, and I know it looks very bad on court and looks bratty and everything, but somehow it just happens, you cannot hold it back. I mean I have to try, but yeah.
Q. And you're in the finals tomorrow. Just want to get your thoughts on playing Halep.
BELINDA BENCIC: Obviously Halep is No. 3 in the world. She's an amazing player. She's so consistent all of the year and definitely going to be a so hard match, but I think today I have to enjoy this victory and tomorrow I will look what I can do against her, and as I said yesterday, just keep enjoying and fighting, and I'm in the final and everything that comes is a bonus. I mean I'm saying always the same, but yeah.
Q. Congratulations on the win. If somebody told you a week ago that you would beat Genie Bouchard, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Sabine Lisicki and now Serena, what would you say?
BELINDA BENCIC: I would ask him where to sign the paper. (Laughs). I mean obviously it's‑‑ I wouldn't believe it. I mean, you know, I'm trying to believe that I can really beat the top players now, but it's crazy that I've beat all of them now in this week.
Q. And you touched on it earlier in the week, but can you weigh in a little bit on when you were first getting into the sport what players like Serena and Ana meant to you as a young player?
BELINDA BENCIC: Obviously a lot. Especially Serena is like the role model for every little girl. I think everyone knows her; and also Ana, I had all the‑‑ you know, from the Yonex I got these posters, so I got Ivanovic, Kirilenko and Martina and a lot of players on my wall. And yeah, it's just‑‑ I mean I couldn't believe it now that I‑‑ when I put the forehand, I just tried to think like, oh, did I just beat her. And yeah, that's my thoughts.
Q. Kind of a simple, or maybe complicated question, I don't know, but what does this win mean to you? What does it mean for you?
BELINDA BENCIC: That's a complicated one.
Q. I thought so.
BELINDA BENCIC: Everything. I mean this is why I worked for 15 years. I mean the practice is not always easy. It was hard; it was tough. Sometimes I didn't want to. And sometimes you feel very motivated, and all this work paid off today, I think, and this is just‑‑ this feeling is indescribable.
Q. You always had great natural anticipation on the court, but do you feel over the last year you got an extra foot speed around the court and that has enabled you to now play against the top players many regards to when they go on the offensive that you can turn around the point in one shot? Do you feel that you've gotten quicker and your off‑court training has helped that?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, definitely, and we were working on it very hard in my quickness and just the speed around the Court. I'm not a very athletic person from nature, you know, like some other players just have it. I have to work hard to get it and I think that's what we did with my fitness coach. So big thanks to him also. And I feel much quicker, and also with anticipation, I think I'm much better player on the defensive, and I think it's so important today as tennis is just so physical.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Q. Serena, did you feel tonight with your ball toss on serve that the most difficulty you had with it the whole entire year and was there anything physical with your ball toss on your serve or was it just the rhythm just wasn't there tonight?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I was just really struggling with my serve today and everything wasn't right with it. My toss was off, and just struggling to try to get that normal lift off, but didn't work out.
Q. And with a match like this tonight showing how tough the depth of the women's game is do you feel like people underestimate the quality of the tour in regards to how strong it is and maybe it's the strongest it's ever been in terms of its depth?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think anyone's underestimating it so much.
Q. Serena, a loss is never fun, obviously, but I guess looking at the bigger picture is it better to lose now rather than somewhere bigger later on?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely. Every loss for me is a big learning session and a learning experience. So I'm looking forward to learning and getting better from this.
Q. You said that Belinda is like the future of the game. I just wanted to find out what you felt she did well today.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I thought she did really well everything. She really reads the ball well, and she really fought really well, and I knew that about her already, that she never gives up and she fights hard.
Yeah, I thought she‑‑ I thought she played an excellent game. I think she played really well today as opposed to a lot of her other matches.
Q. Serena, it's a very unusual taping on your hand. Is that an injury or what's that for?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I injured it when I was playing Vinci.
Q. Can you just talk a little bit about when it happened and where it was?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was running for a drop shot, and I slipped and I fell, and I sprained my fingers. So it's just really sore.
Q. How much is it affecting you today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I can play with swollen fingers, I guess, and my hand. I don't think it should take away from anyone's win in particular. So yeah, it's fine.
Q. You were pretty much in control to start the match. When did you feel things starting to change?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I never felt it really change until I lost the match, so, you know, I always felt that I still had an opportunity to stay in there. And obviously I was down and stuff, but I was just not‑‑ you know what, I haven't playing well today. Today was not my day, and hopefully I can rectify that going into next week and then going into hopefully the Open. Hopefully I can have a few more better days.
Q. After the match you and Belinda seemed to have a little chat afterwards. What did you say to her at the net?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just told her good job, and she played well and I was proud of her. You know, she did a really good job today. So yeah.
Q. Was this you chalk it up in your mind as a bad day at the office or did you feel like maybe it wasn't there today, like when you stepped on the court that there might be issues?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think I played really crappy today. I'll try to be politically correct. And I don't think you would disagree. So yeah. You know, I haven't played like this‑‑ I actually played a couple of matches like this this year, but I was able to get through them, but against the better players you have to not play like this. So yeah, it just‑‑ I missed a lot. I hit a lot of doubles faults. Yeah, I just‑‑ honestly, I could have made one or two more shots and the results could have been different, but I just really, really didn't play up to par today, what a professional tennis player should play like. I played like an amateur, to be honest.
Q. How important do you think a night like this is to the rest of the women on tour and their confidence level? Some of them were commenting earlier today that they don't think a lot of the players have a lot of confidence going up against you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think they do have a lot of confidence. Everyone I play, they play with me like if they don't win, they don't get to go home and something happen to them. So I don't know what that's about. But every match I play, I play they're going incredibly hard and they're playing really well. So that's confidence for me.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Q. Hello, Belinda. Congratulations on a big win. You showed so far like at 3‑2 when she got those games back and then when it was 4‑4, you showed that mental toughness that you continue to grow and you've gotten. Compared to when you played her the first time, how far has your game come to where you're at right now?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I think I was mentally really tough today. I felt amazing on the court, like everything worked. My legs were like so fast. And I was just in kind of a flow, and it just went really good.
Yeah, I mean I wasn't afraid to go for the shots as well. I didn't think about the score. I was nervous, but I tried not to think about it, and I think it was just perfect today.
Q. Yeah, your forehand‑‑ well, all your shots mainly but your forehand and backhand, you were just so aggressive tonight and you hit with the pace, and you felt that especially not east Bourne form but your form here that's the best that you've hit your ground strokes and was able to move and participate her shots well?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I think today was for sure one of my best matches. I felt the ball really good, and I pushed her a lot. I did not so much unforced errors, and I was moving very well. So I think it was overall just the whole package today, and I hope I can play always like this.
Q. And with Kiki still here in the doubles and you guys had a happy week at least winning so far, are you guys planning on doing another Nae Nae and the Whip dance?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, we decided, we were so bored, I mean it was raining all day. We didn't know what to do. But we are like really good friends. We don't know each other for long, just like two weeks we've been talking, but it seems like we've known each other forever.
I hope we can play doubles together. Obviously she has her partner and I have mine, but we paired up at the last minute in Washington and it went really well. She's a really nice girl and really professional, so I hope we can play some more.
Q. You definitely tweeted out about Duval coming back. How do you feel about that and so much strength that she's shown?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I'm so happy for her that she made the comeback. Also she's very good friends. We've been texting a lot. She played her last match against me in Wimbledon, and I mean the news, of course, we were very sad, but she's a fighter, and I always believed in her, so I'm so happy she's back, and she did great in the tournament. Quarterfinals, I think.
Q. Belinda, you're now‑‑ that's your fourth win over a Top 10 player this year, 4 and 1, I think. Yes? No, you can fact check me.
BELINDA BENCIC: So Wozniacki, Wozniacki, Radwanska, Ivanovic.
Q. Yeah.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah.
Q. Okay. So what's kind of your reaction to that? I mean it looked like this win meant a lot to you.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. It definitely meant so much. I mean I played Ivanovic last time, I got killed, 6‑2, 6‑1. And I mean it's just amazing because I've seen her won the French Open title. I had a huge poster on my door of my room, so it's like incredible that I just beat her. And it's really a dream come true, and I just really felt so good on the court. I knew what to do. I had a great tactic, I think, and I just stick on the game plan always, so it was amazing.
Q. You reacted like this was new, like you almost acted like you won the tournament when you won the match.
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean‑‑
Q. But I mean my question is, at what point does this stop being new to you and you start to feel like this is what you can do, that you belong with the top players?
BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. Maybe I will react always like this, even if I'm like 30 years old maybe. I'm just so happy when I win. And I kind of always have the same scream. No?
But yeah, I mean I'm just really excited, even if I win against a player ranked 200 or something and I'm in the semifinals as I win today. But it was very special, and I'm playing semifinals tomorrow against Serena, so it's like‑‑ it's unreal. So that's why I'm so excited.
Q. Earlier Serena was in here, and we asked her about you, and she said that you're a future great, that she expects for you to be the future of women's tennis. I mean what's your reaction when you hear something like that?
BELINDA BENCIC: It's unbelievable. I mean she's for sure the greatest player of all time, and she says that about me? So it's kind of amazing that she thinks that way, but I mean it's still a long way to go until I'm halfway as good as her.
And yeah, I'm just‑‑ tomorrow I'm just going to enjoy the match. I have nothing to lose, so I can totally like go on the court and be just so relaxed. And well, I hope I will play like today.
Q. You said that you were in the flow today, kind of in the zone.
BELINDA BENCIC: Uh‑huh.
Q. Did you realize that before the match, during the warmup? Do you realize it at some point during the match? At what point do you realize, wow, I have everything working today?
BELINDA BENCIC: I realize it today when I played billiards. Everything went‑‑ I said to my hitting partner, "if I play tennis like this"‑‑ no. But then I realized I went on the court and I didn't do a mistake. And then in the second set, you know, 2‑0, 3‑0. So there I went for my shots and just everything went in.
Yeah, I mean all the time on the court I just felt like you couldn't stop me, that I couldn't just play bad, you know, suddenly. So I believed that if I kept playing like this, I can beat her.
Q. And it sounds like you met somebody before you came here, a hockey player? Connor McDavid?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. After the match I met the hockey player.
Q. Did you know him from before?
BELINDA BENCIC: I didn't know him, but I heard he's 18 years old. So he's like same age as me, you know. And it's amazing. I mean he looked much older and‑‑ yeah. Yeah. And obviously, I mean apparently he's really good. So now for sure I will follow him. I mean the results, not on Instagram. (Laughs). Maybe both.
Q. When it was 4‑3 in the match, you had a funny moment when you were, I guess looking at the Jumbotron or had something else. What was so funny that made you laugh after 4‑3 during the changeover?
BELINDA BENCIC: Oh, the guy who won the two‑day trip to Dubai, no. He was like, "yeah!" I would be also so happy if I win a two‑day trip to Dubai. Yeah, that's what I was laughing. Most of the referees was laughing, by the way.
Q. And playing Serena tomorrow and having another player that you've seen on TV and then how complimentary she's been to you overall, like how has she been overall in regards to interacting with you and with her now friendship with Martina Hingis overall. Like how have you gotten to know or talk to her or any advice she's given to you, if any?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I mean always like Serena, as I said, I mean she won Grand Slams when I wasn't even born. No? It's true? I think so.
Q. Maybe born, but not‑‑
BELINDA BENCIC: Born, yeah.
Q. Maybe not conscious.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. But anyway, I'm just following her all my life, and she's a role model for everyone. I mean she's plays amazing tennis, and obviously Martina helps me a lot and she's a great champion, too. So she can give me a lot of advice. I think in every player you find a little weakness, and I really have to find that tomorrow if I want to win. Yeah, I hope I can be well prepared. I think I've played a lot of matches, I'm feeling the ball well. So we'll see tomorrow.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Q. The match you just had seemed a little bit frustrating at points for you. Can you talk about‑‑ or can you tell us what you were frustrated about, and then also how you were able to remain positive and come out with the win?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. Today I was also very emotional, and it was just because I won the first set like really easily. She didn't play so well. I played very good. And then I just suddenly turned around and like within like 30 seconds just a complete different match. So it was very frustrating because I was actually playing well and she was just killing it on like every point.
Yeah, then I just in the third set I really tried to focus. You know, I had a lot of chances, and that was frustrating as well as I couldn't make it. And then I was just‑‑ I calmed down myself at 5‑6 and then I just started playing really good. And yeah, I put a lot of heart in this match.
Q. And obviously you've been working with Martina, and she knows what it's like to be in those kind of tense matches. Has she helped you with the mental aspect of the game and staying positive and getting through those moments?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, definitely, she's helped me a lot, of course. Also that part and she's a great champion, so she obviously knows all of these matches and she tells me like the more experience you have, the more calmer and you know what you will do in such close matches. So that's what really helped me. And she said to me really relaxed. It's just a match, and I will have every week another chance. So that helps me a lot.
Q. Belinda, you had that chance to break at 5‑5. You couldn't do it and then she called the medical timeout, and I know you were standing kind of waiting. What were you telling yourself during that long wait, because you were about to serve to try and hold and force the tiebreak. So that had to have been difficult.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. Obviously she called the physio at 5‑6, so really didn't expect that she would do that. But that's how it was. At least I had a chance to calm down myself. I was just standing there really being focused, and tried to think what I had to do.
And yeah, obviously she's a player that risks a lot, so either she makes a really good winner or mistake. So it was very difficult for me to find the rhythm. But in that moment actually I really tried to go for it. I served better, and I'm happy that I could play my best in the important moments.
Q. Do you think that actually having a little bit of extra time there helped you, because you were incredibly frustrated after not breaking. So did it help you calm down maybe a little bit more than if you just had to go straight after the change over?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. After the match now I realize that of course it helped me to calm down myself also. I mean even I was frustrated. You know, I am like that, I get frustrated really fast, but I also calm down really fast. So it's like, yeah.
Q. Do you feel like you need to continue to work on maintaining your mental composure out there or is it good for you sometimes to introduce your racquet to the tennis court?
BELINDA BENCIC: (Laughs). I mean I know I shouldn't be doing that, but I am a very emotional person. You know, I feel like it helps‑‑ it was better in the last matches, you know. In my junior times and beginning of the tour I was way worse. So I try to be more calm and the matches before just today it happened also a little bit.
But I think it helps me a lot, you know, to get pumped for the match, but also it's not good always. So I mean like a something in between would be nice.
Q. You seemed especially happy after the match when you were meeting your team by the golf cart before you left the Court. Is this the most fun you've had playing tennis ever? Are you really truly enjoying every moment out there?
BELINDA BENCIC: No, I always had fun to play tennis, even if I lose. It's just really nice. If you keep winning these close matches and fighting for every point and then seeing your team which helped you so much. So it's like really a joy to see them, and after the match, especially they were also really happy, too.
Q. Three big wins over three tough opponents. How would you describe your week so far?
BELINDA BENCIC: Amazing, of course. I beat three very good players, which I was watching on TV when I was small. So it's like really a dream coming true now, being one of them and beating them and being in the quarterfinals here, my first appearance is just amazing.
Q. When you first looked at the draw before the tournament started, did you think a quarterfinal appearance would be a possibility for you?
BELINDA BENCIC: I actually didn't look at the draw. I just saw Genie Bouchard.
Q. How did you feel when you saw that?
BELINDA BENCIC: Obviously my first thought was, of course, that she's home, that it's going to be a big match, a night match, nice atmosphere. And I mean I wasn't happy or sad about it. I just knew what to do against her. I've beaten her before, so yeah.
Q. You're obviously one of the rising stars right now in the WTA. How do you manage to have such a steady incline and avoid those let Downs that we sometimes see from the younger players?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I mean that's one of the things that young players really have to work at. Also me, I mean I'm not consistent every tournament, like really it's not really possible to play good every single tournament. But now I feel like I'm improving as well and it's also my goal to be playing consistent every tournament like a couple of good matches. So I'm really happy about that, and I just hope it continues like that.
Q. Belinda, how do you or where do you kind of identify in the year that things turned around for your season, because the beginning it wasn't maybe what everyone was expecting, you know, we expected you to win a lot of matches, it wasn't happening. But then you hit the grass and it seems like you're now playing some of your best tennis now. So why? Where's the change there?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. That's just exactly what I said, I mean we young players, we cannot be consistent like all the year. You know, it's really tough. And also, if you have tough draws and every first round you face a good player and you lose in three sets, so it's kind of like not that you play bad, but you just have like bad momentum or something. And I really felt like I practiced really good like in the Paris start, so there I won a good match against Hantuchov�; I got killed by Madison Keys. But then on the grass I was just looking forward to all the year for the grass season, and I knew that it's going to be my time.
Q. And is it just confidence? Is that the difference between now and maybe four months ago or do you think you're doing something actually different?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. Confidence, you cannot be confident if you are losing. You have to practice and win matches if you want to be confident. You cannot just say, okay, now I'm going to be confident. Yeah, it's very tough. So when you lose all these close matches of course you're not as confident as if you keep winning them. So you really have to practice a lot and just earn it in the practice court, I guess.
Q. You could face Ana Ivanovic in the next round. How do you feel you match up against her?
BELINDA BENCIC: Well, she didn't win yet, so.
Q. No, I realize. Provided she wins.
BELINDA BENCIC: Sorry.
Q. Do you think you match up well against her assuming she wins tonight?
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean I don't know. I'm just going to for sure watch the match, and I made her one time in Beijing. I was like really, I'm playing Ivanovic right now. So I hope tomorrow I can be more like calm, and yeah, we'll see, I mean who wins, and I will for sure watch the match and then set up maybe a good tactic.
Q. Are there still players now for you where you have that reaction like, whoa, whoa, I'm playing this person when you step on the court or is it normal for you now?
BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. It's both. It's like for sure you're excited if you play a top player, but it's not like you're scared of them. So you're really like try to win, of course. So when I played Serena in Madrid the first time, I already was like‑‑ I wasn't even playing. I was just staring at her like I'm playing her, you know. And now I feel like I really‑‑ like you know, I've seen them all The Players lounge and the locker room, so you can get used to that company. So you also try to play normal.
Q. As your ranking will continue to go up, do you have like a strategy of how to handle the pressure as you keep going on in this year, maybe next year?
BELINDA BENCIC: No. It's not a strategy. It's just I'm really thankful for my team that they just keep me on like they are not going to hype‑‑ over hype me, of course. When you win some matches, the press and the media and the people are for sure they get really excited and they tend to hype the player a lot. But I'm just trying not to get distracted by that and see myself as a‑‑ just as I am and on the practice court and the truth is on the court and not in the rankings or in the media or the popularity. So I think it's also a job from the people around you to keep you on the ground.
Q. After all these victories, is it crossing your mind that in the future you want to be No. 1 or are you just content being part of all the top tournaments? You know, what's your ultimate goal?
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean of course, it's not just because now I'm winning, but I think every small kid who starts playing tennis like seriously wants to become No. 1 in the world or win a Grand Slam. So it's obviously a dream right now. My goal is just to keep improving, but I think every player has dreams. But I mean it's still a long ways, so I'm not really thinking about it right now.
TORONTO – In a surprising turn of events, top-seeded Serena Williams won’t be playing in Sunday’s Rogers Cup final.
The tennis star was hamstrung by service problems and inconsistent play in the evening match against Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic on Centre Court. Williams has been dominant this season – winning the first three Grand Slams this year – but a rare off-night left her with a 43-2 mark on the season.
August 16, 2015
Simona Halep
TORONTO, ONTARIO
B. BENCIC/S. Halep
7‑6, 6‑7, 3‑0 (ret.)
7‑6, 6‑7, 3‑0 (ret.)
Q. Simona, you showed tremendous fight once again today. When did you feel your injury start? Was it during the Errani match or did it just happen today?
SIMONA HALEP: Today. In the first set I felt a little bit muscle and then it was going to the knee. And in the second set I felt bad, like stomach cramps and dizzy and stuff like that.
Q. And when you finished the second set tiebreak and you had the forward momentum, did you feel then that even with the injury that you felt the momentum, you played great, you found your forehand that you could maybe finish the match or did you even think then that I need like a miracle to finish it out?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I was thinking that I need a miracle to finish the match. I know that I have no power. So I tried just to finish the match, but at 3‑0 I said it is no sense to continue, and I stopped.
Q. And what outside of that for this whole week where you showed your fight would you take from this week besides getting healthy and resting up for the US Open, that you can take as a positive for how you played and fought this week?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, this week was a great week for me. I played big matches, I can say with tough players, top players. I had great victories. So I take only the positives. It happens‑‑ sometimes it happens just to feel bad on court and I couldn't change anything. So it's fine and I'm looking forward for the next tournament and to recover myself.
Q. You played Belinda last year. In what way did she improve the most during one year?
SIMONA HALEP: I think she's stronger. She's moving better. And she hits the ball better. I didn't watch her too much. I played on grass, so it was difficult to see many things because it's different tennis on hardcourt. So yeah, I think she's better than last year and she can improve more.
Q. Simona, you said that making the final it seemed almost like a bonus, you maybe didn't expect it at the beginning. So now are you disappointed by the results or how everything played out today or are you positive? I mean where is your head right now?
SIMONA HALEP: I'm positive, because if I did like took the second set like how I was, I think it's a big positive thing for me. I didn't play my best. I couldn't be there. And still I won the second set.
She's a great player. She played well, so I'm not disappointed because I stopped the match. No, I'm not disappointed because I lost the match, because I am disappointed that I stopped the match. I'm not used to give up the matches, and I don't like this way. But today it was too much. It wasn't about injury. It was like myself, my body. So I decided too late, I think it was late I decided to stop.
Q. And at 3‑5 in that second set what were you telling yourself, because watching it it was almost like, you know, why try to push it into a third set? You know, you didn't look well out there at all.
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah. I don't know why I continued to play. Maybe for the fans. They were like screaming all the time to push me to still play.
I have no idea why I still played the second set, but I did great, and I'm happy that I could‑‑ you know, I could find the power to win the second set.
Q. Do you think the illness was triggered by the injury? And how did you feel it start to come on? Have you ever experienced anything like that before?
SIMONA HALEP: No. It's different. The injury is my leg, and I felt bad inside of myself, so cramps, stomach cramps and, you know, from the heat maybe. So it was different.
Q. I realize before you started the game you came out already injured, or you felt not good before the start of the game.
SIMONA HALEP: Where did you see me?
Q. When you came on the court, you were walking, not concentrated on the game.
SIMONA HALEP: I don't know.
Q. Maybe it was a result of this injury.
SIMONA HALEP: I was okay when I went on court. I mean I was tired because I had big matches before. But I knew that I have enough power to play the match. But you know, during the match it was difficult because I felt I started to feel bad.
Q. How do you think you're going to prepare for the US Open? What's the next couple of weeks going to be for you do you think coming out of this injury?
SIMONA HALEP: First I have to recover in a few days. Then I'm thinking to play Cincinnati, because I have a bye, so I have enough time to recover. But we will see.
Then I am entered on the New Haven tournament. And then US Open. So and I don't change anything right now. So I will see next days.
Q. And you talked about the fans, them pushing you. I guess what was the support like for you this week here in Toronto from clearly a lot of Romanian supporters?
SIMONA HALEP: I feel that they appreciate my game. They appreciate that how I fight here during the matches, and I really like to play in front of them because they are really supporting me. They are screaming my name. They are screaming many words in Romanian, so it was funny today the chair umpire said thank you in Romanian. So yeah, it was funny. So it was really nice and I enjoyed a lot this tournament.
Q. Simona, as you mentioned you're scheduled to play three straight weeks going into the US Open. Is there any concern that if you do all of them you might not have enough left for New York?
SIMONA HALEP: It's long time till New York, so I have just to take day by day to see how I feel, how I play. If I played here final, doesn't mean that next week I will play again final. So we will see.
I have no answer now, right now because I'm not sure what is going to happen in the future next days.
Q. Simona, what did this week kind of tell you with respect to your preparation and what you may not expect, but where your game is I guess right now for the next few weeks?
SIMONA HALEP: I think I have a good game right now, and my body is okay. I run well during the point, and I recover very well after the big points. So I feel that I'm ready to start to play a Grand Slam. You know, I have two more weeks, so it's enough time to prepare myself better.
But like I said at home I didn't practice too much because I had the break, I wanted to take a break. So every day is important, and every day I will take like an improvement.
“I think I played really crappy today,” Williams told reporters on Saturday. “I’ll try to be politically correct. And I don’t think you would disagree.”Bencic smashed through her competition, starting with Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and finishing most recently with a performance she’ll never forget, stunning the top-ranked American 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 for the biggest win of her career.
“I can’t describe the feeling right now,” Bencic said. “I was very overwhelmed from the situation on the court, but I’m just so happy the (winning) forehand landed in and she couldn’t reach it anymore.
“It was an incredible feeling. I have no words.”
Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, smiles after defeating Serena Williams, of the United States, during Rogers Cup semi-final tennis action in Toronto on Saturday, August 15, 2015.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
With nerves and tension building, Bencic nearly let the third set slip away. She stormed out to a 5-1 lead but Williams picked up two breaks – sealing the second one on a double-fault – to get back on serve.
“I was very nervous in that moment,” Bencic said. “But I told myself today is my chance and I really have to stay focused and be mentally tough, even if I didn’t do it on the first try.”Bencic didn’t quit despite her opponent’s renewed focus. In the final game, she delivered a driving backhand that Williams couldn’t return to get to match point and delivered a stinging forehand winner to seal the victory.
The 18-year-old was as surprised as anyone in the near-capacity crowd at the 8,000-seat venue. A wide-eyed Bencic put her hands to her face and squatted down as the crowd roared.
The two players smiled as they shook hands and Bencic cried tears of joy in her courtside chair as fireworks went off in the distance.
“This is why I worked for 15 years,” she said. “I mean the practice is not always easy. It was hard, it was tough. Sometimes I didn’t want to and sometimes you feel very motivated. And all this work paid off today I think and this feeling is indescribable.”
The right-handed Williams played with a bandaged middle finger on her left hand. She called it a ‘sprain,’ suffered after she slipped and fell in her quarter-final win over Roberta Vinci a night earlier.
August 15, 2015
Belinda Bencic
TORONTO, ONTARIO
B. BENCIC/S. Williams
3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑4
3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑4
Q. You played a beautiful game, and we're very proud. And you did come through today.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, definitely. I can't describe the feeling right now. I was very overwhelmed from the situation on the court, but I'm just so happy the forehand landed in and she couldn't reach it anymore. It was an incredible feeling. I have no words.
Q. At what moment in the match did you say to yourself, okay, she's just another player on the court and I can win this match? Was it during the second set? Was it during the first set or even at the start of the match? When did you realize this is what it is and I can do this tonight?
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean I always go to the court, and I believe that I can win the match somehow, but of course, it's very different against Serena Williams, especially I got killed in the beginning. It was 5‑1 in a very short time, and I was a little bit‑‑ I was not nervous, but she just didn't let me in the match. And then I just tried to fight for every point.
I called my dad for on‑court coach, and he told me the same. And I just tried to hang in there, and in the second set I think I did very well and to just somehow close out very tight. And I had 5‑1. I was‑‑ it was so tough to close it out, and I mean every match is so tough, but especially against Serena Williams, it's something else, and yeah I'm just very proud that somehow I could recover myself and at 5‑4 to close it out.
Q. What did you tell yourself when you had that double fault and it became 5‑4? What did you tell yourself on the changeover that settled yourself down and was able to have you be calm and you hit that great backhand to setup your forehand? What did you tell yourself to get you in that mindset you could close her out then?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. During the double fault I was very nervous in that moment, but I told myself today is my chance and I really have to stay focused and be mentally tough, even if I didn't do it on the first try.
But of course, I think it's normal. I think everyone would be so nervous. And yeah.
Q. Belinda, you're talking about a lot about fighting on the court and taking everything one point at a time but a lot of the other players have said you're very smart on court, that tactically you know how to change tactics and read the game. So just from a tactical perspective, how did that match play out for you, and did you make any adjustments in the middle to kind of change things around?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I of course tried to have always a good tactic when I go to the court. I think it's my weapon. I may not have the most powerful game or something. But I try to find the weakness in the opponent's game. And I think today it was for sure just to keep my game‑‑ in the first set I was focusing too much what I have to do, and I forgot to play myself, you know, and then I tried to serve her to the backhand, obviously.
I mean her forehand is amazing. Yeah, just to move her around and keep hanging in there. Obviously she wasn't serving as great as she normally does. But I think I tried to read her serve also‑‑ I mean I read it better in the end, and I was returning sometimes very good return on the big points. So I think that helped me a lot. And yeah.
Q. How aware were you in the third set when Serena was really pumping herself up and getting into it? How conscious were you when she was clawing back point by point?
BELINDA BENCIC: I always told myself it's Serena Williams. I'm not going to expect she's going to hand to me the match. I expect that she's going to put up a great fight. Obviously she did a lot of turnaround like this.
I remember watching the match where she played in the US Open against Azarenka. I was actually in the stands, and Azarenka had 5‑3 in the third, and it was kind of similar to today, so I remember that it's totally normal that she would come back, and I just have to push through somehow and just try to win.
Q. Belinda, how would you assess your level today in terms of matches? Is it one of the best you've ever played, and in terms of just competing and hanging in there?
BELINDA BENCIC: I have no idea how I played, actually. I can't remember. (Laughs). I don't know. I just‑‑ you know, in that moment you really don't think about that. You just want to win point by point even if it's really ugly. And in the end it was just so loud, and I didn't think anything. So I think I was mentally very good today to fight through. I'm very proud of that, and I will see a video of how I played.
Q. How different is it you playing her when she's not serving well compared to when she's serving well?
BELINDA BENCIC: Well, of course, she doesn't ace you all the time, so it's good for you. I think I read her serve also very good sometimes, so she was kind of maybe not‑‑ not as comfortable as she was in the start. I mean in the start she served very good, and then just came out of the rhythm. My serve was also very so‑so today, I would say, and yeah, I mean it's a good advantage, of course.
Q. You talked about nerves. Are there obviously you would be pretty nervous, about to close out Serena. And then when it was 5‑4 you slammed the racquet on the floor. How much did that‑‑
BELINDA BENCIC: But she did too; right? (Laughs). I just slammed it. I didn't break it.
Q. Okay. You didn't break it. So how much did that like sort of relieve you and sort of maybe calm you down for that next game?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I mean I'm not thinking when I do it. It just happens. Just my automatic reaction. I have no idea. I have no explanation. But just sometimes the anger needs to go out, and I know it looks very bad on court and looks bratty and everything, but somehow it just happens, you cannot hold it back. I mean I have to try, but yeah.
Q. And you're in the finals tomorrow. Just want to get your thoughts on playing Halep.
BELINDA BENCIC: Obviously Halep is No. 3 in the world. She's an amazing player. She's so consistent all of the year and definitely going to be a so hard match, but I think today I have to enjoy this victory and tomorrow I will look what I can do against her, and as I said yesterday, just keep enjoying and fighting, and I'm in the final and everything that comes is a bonus. I mean I'm saying always the same, but yeah.
Q. Congratulations on the win. If somebody told you a week ago that you would beat Genie Bouchard, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Sabine Lisicki and now Serena, what would you say?
BELINDA BENCIC: I would ask him where to sign the paper. (Laughs). I mean obviously it's‑‑ I wouldn't believe it. I mean, you know, I'm trying to believe that I can really beat the top players now, but it's crazy that I've beat all of them now in this week.
Q. And you touched on it earlier in the week, but can you weigh in a little bit on when you were first getting into the sport what players like Serena and Ana meant to you as a young player?
BELINDA BENCIC: Obviously a lot. Especially Serena is like the role model for every little girl. I think everyone knows her; and also Ana, I had all the‑‑ you know, from the Yonex I got these posters, so I got Ivanovic, Kirilenko and Martina and a lot of players on my wall. And yeah, it's just‑‑ I mean I couldn't believe it now that I‑‑ when I put the forehand, I just tried to think like, oh, did I just beat her. And yeah, that's my thoughts.
Q. Kind of a simple, or maybe complicated question, I don't know, but what does this win mean to you? What does it mean for you?
BELINDA BENCIC: That's a complicated one.
Q. I thought so.
BELINDA BENCIC: Everything. I mean this is why I worked for 15 years. I mean the practice is not always easy. It was hard; it was tough. Sometimes I didn't want to. And sometimes you feel very motivated, and all this work paid off today, I think, and this is just‑‑ this feeling is indescribable.
Q. You always had great natural anticipation on the court, but do you feel over the last year you got an extra foot speed around the court and that has enabled you to now play against the top players many regards to when they go on the offensive that you can turn around the point in one shot? Do you feel that you've gotten quicker and your off‑court training has helped that?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, definitely, and we were working on it very hard in my quickness and just the speed around the Court. I'm not a very athletic person from nature, you know, like some other players just have it. I have to work hard to get it and I think that's what we did with my fitness coach. So big thanks to him also. And I feel much quicker, and also with anticipation, I think I'm much better player on the defensive, and I think it's so important today as tennis is just so physical.
August 15, 2015
Serena Williams
TORONTO, ONTARIO
B. BENCIC/S. Williams
3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑4
3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑4
Q. Serena, did you feel tonight with your ball toss on serve that the most difficulty you had with it the whole entire year and was there anything physical with your ball toss on your serve or was it just the rhythm just wasn't there tonight?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I was just really struggling with my serve today and everything wasn't right with it. My toss was off, and just struggling to try to get that normal lift off, but didn't work out.
Q. And with a match like this tonight showing how tough the depth of the women's game is do you feel like people underestimate the quality of the tour in regards to how strong it is and maybe it's the strongest it's ever been in terms of its depth?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think anyone's underestimating it so much.
Q. Serena, a loss is never fun, obviously, but I guess looking at the bigger picture is it better to lose now rather than somewhere bigger later on?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely. Every loss for me is a big learning session and a learning experience. So I'm looking forward to learning and getting better from this.
Q. You said that Belinda is like the future of the game. I just wanted to find out what you felt she did well today.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I thought she did really well everything. She really reads the ball well, and she really fought really well, and I knew that about her already, that she never gives up and she fights hard.
Yeah, I thought she‑‑ I thought she played an excellent game. I think she played really well today as opposed to a lot of her other matches.
Q. Serena, it's a very unusual taping on your hand. Is that an injury or what's that for?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I injured it when I was playing Vinci.
Q. Can you just talk a little bit about when it happened and where it was?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was running for a drop shot, and I slipped and I fell, and I sprained my fingers. So it's just really sore.
Q. How much is it affecting you today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I can play with swollen fingers, I guess, and my hand. I don't think it should take away from anyone's win in particular. So yeah, it's fine.
Q. You were pretty much in control to start the match. When did you feel things starting to change?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I never felt it really change until I lost the match, so, you know, I always felt that I still had an opportunity to stay in there. And obviously I was down and stuff, but I was just not‑‑ you know what, I haven't playing well today. Today was not my day, and hopefully I can rectify that going into next week and then going into hopefully the Open. Hopefully I can have a few more better days.
Q. After the match you and Belinda seemed to have a little chat afterwards. What did you say to her at the net?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just told her good job, and she played well and I was proud of her. You know, she did a really good job today. So yeah.
Q. Was this you chalk it up in your mind as a bad day at the office or did you feel like maybe it wasn't there today, like when you stepped on the court that there might be issues?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think I played really crappy today. I'll try to be politically correct. And I don't think you would disagree. So yeah. You know, I haven't played like this‑‑ I actually played a couple of matches like this this year, but I was able to get through them, but against the better players you have to not play like this. So yeah, it just‑‑ I missed a lot. I hit a lot of doubles faults. Yeah, I just‑‑ honestly, I could have made one or two more shots and the results could have been different, but I just really, really didn't play up to par today, what a professional tennis player should play like. I played like an amateur, to be honest.
Q. How important do you think a night like this is to the rest of the women on tour and their confidence level? Some of them were commenting earlier today that they don't think a lot of the players have a lot of confidence going up against you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think they do have a lot of confidence. Everyone I play, they play with me like if they don't win, they don't get to go home and something happen to them. So I don't know what that's about. But every match I play, I play they're going incredibly hard and they're playing really well. So that's confidence for me.
August 14, 2015
Belinda Bencic
TORONTO, ONTARIO
B. BENCIC/A. Ivanovic
6‑4, 6‑2
6‑4, 6‑2
Q. Hello, Belinda. Congratulations on a big win. You showed so far like at 3‑2 when she got those games back and then when it was 4‑4, you showed that mental toughness that you continue to grow and you've gotten. Compared to when you played her the first time, how far has your game come to where you're at right now?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I think I was mentally really tough today. I felt amazing on the court, like everything worked. My legs were like so fast. And I was just in kind of a flow, and it just went really good.
Yeah, I mean I wasn't afraid to go for the shots as well. I didn't think about the score. I was nervous, but I tried not to think about it, and I think it was just perfect today.
Q. Yeah, your forehand‑‑ well, all your shots mainly but your forehand and backhand, you were just so aggressive tonight and you hit with the pace, and you felt that especially not east Bourne form but your form here that's the best that you've hit your ground strokes and was able to move and participate her shots well?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I think today was for sure one of my best matches. I felt the ball really good, and I pushed her a lot. I did not so much unforced errors, and I was moving very well. So I think it was overall just the whole package today, and I hope I can play always like this.
Q. And with Kiki still here in the doubles and you guys had a happy week at least winning so far, are you guys planning on doing another Nae Nae and the Whip dance?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, we decided, we were so bored, I mean it was raining all day. We didn't know what to do. But we are like really good friends. We don't know each other for long, just like two weeks we've been talking, but it seems like we've known each other forever.
I hope we can play doubles together. Obviously she has her partner and I have mine, but we paired up at the last minute in Washington and it went really well. She's a really nice girl and really professional, so I hope we can play some more.
Q. You definitely tweeted out about Duval coming back. How do you feel about that and so much strength that she's shown?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I'm so happy for her that she made the comeback. Also she's very good friends. We've been texting a lot. She played her last match against me in Wimbledon, and I mean the news, of course, we were very sad, but she's a fighter, and I always believed in her, so I'm so happy she's back, and she did great in the tournament. Quarterfinals, I think.
Q. Belinda, you're now‑‑ that's your fourth win over a Top 10 player this year, 4 and 1, I think. Yes? No, you can fact check me.
BELINDA BENCIC: So Wozniacki, Wozniacki, Radwanska, Ivanovic.
Q. Yeah.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah.
Q. Okay. So what's kind of your reaction to that? I mean it looked like this win meant a lot to you.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. It definitely meant so much. I mean I played Ivanovic last time, I got killed, 6‑2, 6‑1. And I mean it's just amazing because I've seen her won the French Open title. I had a huge poster on my door of my room, so it's like incredible that I just beat her. And it's really a dream come true, and I just really felt so good on the court. I knew what to do. I had a great tactic, I think, and I just stick on the game plan always, so it was amazing.
Q. You reacted like this was new, like you almost acted like you won the tournament when you won the match.
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean‑‑
Q. But I mean my question is, at what point does this stop being new to you and you start to feel like this is what you can do, that you belong with the top players?
BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. Maybe I will react always like this, even if I'm like 30 years old maybe. I'm just so happy when I win. And I kind of always have the same scream. No?
But yeah, I mean I'm just really excited, even if I win against a player ranked 200 or something and I'm in the semifinals as I win today. But it was very special, and I'm playing semifinals tomorrow against Serena, so it's like‑‑ it's unreal. So that's why I'm so excited.
Q. Earlier Serena was in here, and we asked her about you, and she said that you're a future great, that she expects for you to be the future of women's tennis. I mean what's your reaction when you hear something like that?
BELINDA BENCIC: It's unbelievable. I mean she's for sure the greatest player of all time, and she says that about me? So it's kind of amazing that she thinks that way, but I mean it's still a long way to go until I'm halfway as good as her.
And yeah, I'm just‑‑ tomorrow I'm just going to enjoy the match. I have nothing to lose, so I can totally like go on the court and be just so relaxed. And well, I hope I will play like today.
Q. You said that you were in the flow today, kind of in the zone.
BELINDA BENCIC: Uh‑huh.
Q. Did you realize that before the match, during the warmup? Do you realize it at some point during the match? At what point do you realize, wow, I have everything working today?
BELINDA BENCIC: I realize it today when I played billiards. Everything went‑‑ I said to my hitting partner, "if I play tennis like this"‑‑ no. But then I realized I went on the court and I didn't do a mistake. And then in the second set, you know, 2‑0, 3‑0. So there I went for my shots and just everything went in.
Yeah, I mean all the time on the court I just felt like you couldn't stop me, that I couldn't just play bad, you know, suddenly. So I believed that if I kept playing like this, I can beat her.
Q. And it sounds like you met somebody before you came here, a hockey player? Connor McDavid?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. After the match I met the hockey player.
Q. Did you know him from before?
BELINDA BENCIC: I didn't know him, but I heard he's 18 years old. So he's like same age as me, you know. And it's amazing. I mean he looked much older and‑‑ yeah. Yeah. And obviously, I mean apparently he's really good. So now for sure I will follow him. I mean the results, not on Instagram. (Laughs). Maybe both.
Q. When it was 4‑3 in the match, you had a funny moment when you were, I guess looking at the Jumbotron or had something else. What was so funny that made you laugh after 4‑3 during the changeover?
BELINDA BENCIC: Oh, the guy who won the two‑day trip to Dubai, no. He was like, "yeah!" I would be also so happy if I win a two‑day trip to Dubai. Yeah, that's what I was laughing. Most of the referees was laughing, by the way.
Q. And playing Serena tomorrow and having another player that you've seen on TV and then how complimentary she's been to you overall, like how has she been overall in regards to interacting with you and with her now friendship with Martina Hingis overall. Like how have you gotten to know or talk to her or any advice she's given to you, if any?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I mean always like Serena, as I said, I mean she won Grand Slams when I wasn't even born. No? It's true? I think so.
Q. Maybe born, but not‑‑
BELINDA BENCIC: Born, yeah.
Q. Maybe not conscious.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. But anyway, I'm just following her all my life, and she's a role model for everyone. I mean she's plays amazing tennis, and obviously Martina helps me a lot and she's a great champion, too. So she can give me a lot of advice. I think in every player you find a little weakness, and I really have to find that tomorrow if I want to win. Yeah, I hope I can be well prepared. I think I've played a lot of matches, I'm feeling the ball well. So we'll see tomorrow.
August 13, 2015
Belinda Bencic
TORONTO, ONTARIO
B. BENCIC/S. Lisicki
6‑1, 1‑6, 7‑6
6‑1, 1‑6, 7‑6
Q. The match you just had seemed a little bit frustrating at points for you. Can you talk about‑‑ or can you tell us what you were frustrated about, and then also how you were able to remain positive and come out with the win?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. Today I was also very emotional, and it was just because I won the first set like really easily. She didn't play so well. I played very good. And then I just suddenly turned around and like within like 30 seconds just a complete different match. So it was very frustrating because I was actually playing well and she was just killing it on like every point.
Yeah, then I just in the third set I really tried to focus. You know, I had a lot of chances, and that was frustrating as well as I couldn't make it. And then I was just‑‑ I calmed down myself at 5‑6 and then I just started playing really good. And yeah, I put a lot of heart in this match.
Q. And obviously you've been working with Martina, and she knows what it's like to be in those kind of tense matches. Has she helped you with the mental aspect of the game and staying positive and getting through those moments?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, definitely, she's helped me a lot, of course. Also that part and she's a great champion, so she obviously knows all of these matches and she tells me like the more experience you have, the more calmer and you know what you will do in such close matches. So that's what really helped me. And she said to me really relaxed. It's just a match, and I will have every week another chance. So that helps me a lot.
Q. Belinda, you had that chance to break at 5‑5. You couldn't do it and then she called the medical timeout, and I know you were standing kind of waiting. What were you telling yourself during that long wait, because you were about to serve to try and hold and force the tiebreak. So that had to have been difficult.
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. Obviously she called the physio at 5‑6, so really didn't expect that she would do that. But that's how it was. At least I had a chance to calm down myself. I was just standing there really being focused, and tried to think what I had to do.
And yeah, obviously she's a player that risks a lot, so either she makes a really good winner or mistake. So it was very difficult for me to find the rhythm. But in that moment actually I really tried to go for it. I served better, and I'm happy that I could play my best in the important moments.
Q. Do you think that actually having a little bit of extra time there helped you, because you were incredibly frustrated after not breaking. So did it help you calm down maybe a little bit more than if you just had to go straight after the change over?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. After the match now I realize that of course it helped me to calm down myself also. I mean even I was frustrated. You know, I am like that, I get frustrated really fast, but I also calm down really fast. So it's like, yeah.
Q. Do you feel like you need to continue to work on maintaining your mental composure out there or is it good for you sometimes to introduce your racquet to the tennis court?
BELINDA BENCIC: (Laughs). I mean I know I shouldn't be doing that, but I am a very emotional person. You know, I feel like it helps‑‑ it was better in the last matches, you know. In my junior times and beginning of the tour I was way worse. So I try to be more calm and the matches before just today it happened also a little bit.
But I think it helps me a lot, you know, to get pumped for the match, but also it's not good always. So I mean like a something in between would be nice.
Q. You seemed especially happy after the match when you were meeting your team by the golf cart before you left the Court. Is this the most fun you've had playing tennis ever? Are you really truly enjoying every moment out there?
BELINDA BENCIC: No, I always had fun to play tennis, even if I lose. It's just really nice. If you keep winning these close matches and fighting for every point and then seeing your team which helped you so much. So it's like really a joy to see them, and after the match, especially they were also really happy, too.
Q. Three big wins over three tough opponents. How would you describe your week so far?
BELINDA BENCIC: Amazing, of course. I beat three very good players, which I was watching on TV when I was small. So it's like really a dream coming true now, being one of them and beating them and being in the quarterfinals here, my first appearance is just amazing.
Q. When you first looked at the draw before the tournament started, did you think a quarterfinal appearance would be a possibility for you?
BELINDA BENCIC: I actually didn't look at the draw. I just saw Genie Bouchard.
Q. How did you feel when you saw that?
BELINDA BENCIC: Obviously my first thought was, of course, that she's home, that it's going to be a big match, a night match, nice atmosphere. And I mean I wasn't happy or sad about it. I just knew what to do against her. I've beaten her before, so yeah.
Q. You're obviously one of the rising stars right now in the WTA. How do you manage to have such a steady incline and avoid those let Downs that we sometimes see from the younger players?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. I mean that's one of the things that young players really have to work at. Also me, I mean I'm not consistent every tournament, like really it's not really possible to play good every single tournament. But now I feel like I'm improving as well and it's also my goal to be playing consistent every tournament like a couple of good matches. So I'm really happy about that, and I just hope it continues like that.
Q. Belinda, how do you or where do you kind of identify in the year that things turned around for your season, because the beginning it wasn't maybe what everyone was expecting, you know, we expected you to win a lot of matches, it wasn't happening. But then you hit the grass and it seems like you're now playing some of your best tennis now. So why? Where's the change there?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. That's just exactly what I said, I mean we young players, we cannot be consistent like all the year. You know, it's really tough. And also, if you have tough draws and every first round you face a good player and you lose in three sets, so it's kind of like not that you play bad, but you just have like bad momentum or something. And I really felt like I practiced really good like in the Paris start, so there I won a good match against Hantuchov�; I got killed by Madison Keys. But then on the grass I was just looking forward to all the year for the grass season, and I knew that it's going to be my time.
Q. And is it just confidence? Is that the difference between now and maybe four months ago or do you think you're doing something actually different?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah. Confidence, you cannot be confident if you are losing. You have to practice and win matches if you want to be confident. You cannot just say, okay, now I'm going to be confident. Yeah, it's very tough. So when you lose all these close matches of course you're not as confident as if you keep winning them. So you really have to practice a lot and just earn it in the practice court, I guess.
Q. You could face Ana Ivanovic in the next round. How do you feel you match up against her?
BELINDA BENCIC: Well, she didn't win yet, so.
Q. No, I realize. Provided she wins.
BELINDA BENCIC: Sorry.
Q. Do you think you match up well against her assuming she wins tonight?
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean I don't know. I'm just going to for sure watch the match, and I made her one time in Beijing. I was like really, I'm playing Ivanovic right now. So I hope tomorrow I can be more like calm, and yeah, we'll see, I mean who wins, and I will for sure watch the match and then set up maybe a good tactic.
Q. Are there still players now for you where you have that reaction like, whoa, whoa, I'm playing this person when you step on the court or is it normal for you now?
BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. It's both. It's like for sure you're excited if you play a top player, but it's not like you're scared of them. So you're really like try to win, of course. So when I played Serena in Madrid the first time, I already was like‑‑ I wasn't even playing. I was just staring at her like I'm playing her, you know. And now I feel like I really‑‑ like you know, I've seen them all The Players lounge and the locker room, so you can get used to that company. So you also try to play normal.
Q. As your ranking will continue to go up, do you have like a strategy of how to handle the pressure as you keep going on in this year, maybe next year?
BELINDA BENCIC: No. It's not a strategy. It's just I'm really thankful for my team that they just keep me on like they are not going to hype‑‑ over hype me, of course. When you win some matches, the press and the media and the people are for sure they get really excited and they tend to hype the player a lot. But I'm just trying not to get distracted by that and see myself as a‑‑ just as I am and on the practice court and the truth is on the court and not in the rankings or in the media or the popularity. So I think it's also a job from the people around you to keep you on the ground.
Q. After all these victories, is it crossing your mind that in the future you want to be No. 1 or are you just content being part of all the top tournaments? You know, what's your ultimate goal?
BELINDA BENCIC: I mean of course, it's not just because now I'm winning, but I think every small kid who starts playing tennis like seriously wants to become No. 1 in the world or win a Grand Slam. So it's obviously a dream right now. My goal is just to keep improving, but I think every player has dreams. But I mean it's still a long ways, so I'm not really thinking about it right now.
Belinda Bencic
- Residence: Wollerau, Switzerland
- Date of Birth: 10 Mar 1997
- Birthplace: Flawil, Switzerland
- Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
- Weight: 139 lbs. (63 kg)
- Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
- Status: Pro
- Official Site
20
Singles RankingSwitzerland
Belinda Bencic Biography
Coached by father, Ivan and occasionally Melanie Molitor (mother of Martina Hingis); started playing ...
Read moreStats
| YTD | Career | |
| WTA Singles Titles | 1 | 1 |
| WTA Doubles Titles | 2 | 2 |
| ITF Women's Circuit Singles Titles | 0 | 2 |
| ITF Women's Circuit Doubles Titles | 0 | 2 |
| Prize Money | $680,511 | $1,444,300 |
| W/L - Singles | 25 - 17 | 121 - 64 |
| W/L - Doubles | 11 - 6 | 26 - 15 |
Results
WASHINGTON DC
WTA // USA // 03-Aug-2015 // $226,750 // Hard (Outdoor) // Draw: 32M/16Q/16D // Rank: 22 // Seed/Entry: 3/MD| Round | Result | Opponent | Rank | Score |
| R32 | Win | Tereza Smitkova (CZE) | 99 | 7-5 6-4 |
| R16 | Loss | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) | 40 | 6-2 6-4 |
WTA Rankings PTS
+30
+30
Prize Money
$3,420
$3,420
Rankings
| Singles | Road to Singapore | Doubles |
| 20 | 23 | 77 |
| Career-high Singles | Career-high Doubles |
| 10-Aug-2015 (20) | 10-Aug-2015 (77) |
To The Top
Swiss teen Belinda Bencic defeated world No. 3 Simona Halep 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 3-0 ret. on Sunday to win her maiden Rogers Cup presented by National Bank title – her biggest career trophy to date. Halep was forced to retire when she was down 0-3 in the deciding set.
In tough conditions on a steamy afternoon in Toronto, the two athletes battled for a remarkable two hours and 30 minutes. It looked like Bencic might take the match in straight-sets, but Halep rallied to force a second-set tiebreaker and ultimately a third set. Trailing by three games in the final set, Halep was spent and could no longer continue.
In her first-ever appearance at Rogers Cup, Bencic made a huge splash by defeating four Top 10 players during the week. The 18-year-old eliminated Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard in her opener, former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the second round, former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki in the third, and another former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in the quarters before upsetting world No. 1 Serena Williams in the semifinal. Her semifinal win was only Williams’ second loss of the year and made Bencic the youngest player in more than 10 years (a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova in 2004) to defeat Williams.
Another impressive stat – every single player she beat en route to the title was a former Grand Slam champion or finalist. Currently ranked world No. 20, when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday Bencic will break into the Top 15 for the first time in her career. She now also holds the top spot in the Emirates Airline US Open Series.
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