US OPEN

September 8, 2021

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

E. RADUCANU/B. Bencic

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on the match.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, it was very difficult match for me today. Definitely very disappointed that I couldn't show what I really could have played or show what I can play.

I just wasn't able to do today, but obviously she played great, of course. She totally deserved to win. I just wish I could have made it a little bit harder and played better or play more my game.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. What did she do that made things tough for you? Was there anything about her game that surprised you at all?

BELINDA BENCIC: I mean, a lot of things. First of all, she's a very solid player, so I'm not sure there was particularly something that I was surprised about. You know, I knew that she plays very good.

I just think I was struggling with myself a little bit today, with how I played, with what I could have done better. But obviously she's very solid, you know, to just kind of stay tough till the end and just play her game and kind of not let me in again.

Q. Now there are two teenagers, her and Leylah Fernandez, in the semifinals. Is that surprising at all? What do you think maybe is the hardest part for somebody that young to have the kind of success they are having?

BELINDA BENCIC: I mean, I honestly think it's great. It's great for tennis. It's obviously great stories. I just really hope that everyone will protect them and will hope the best for them and not try to, you know, kind of not destroy but, you know, put so much pressure and so much hype around them so it just gets too much.

I just hope everyone will stay and will really hope the best for them so they can just develop and kind of in peace also a little bit (smiling).