ROLAND GARROS

May 25, 2022

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/B. Andreescu

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Looked like we might be going three sets. In the second set there was a fight back but you must be pleased to get it in straight sets.

BELINDA BENCIC: No, it was always going to be in two sets (smiling).

No, of course it was a little hiccup in the end but I think that's tennis. I basically didn't serve out once, I had a cushion of two breaks, which was good I did that. But yeah, I think it's always tough, you lack a little bit of focus against a top player and it can change quickly.

But I'm happy I stayed strong in the important moments. I think that's also what it's about even if it would become 5-5, I proved there you can still be strong.

Overall, I was really happy with the match. I think it was very solid from me, and, yeah, happy with the win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. On paper, looks like you are performing amazing on clay. 11-2, first clay title. Is something clicking, something different than in years past for you on this surface?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I'm getting more wins (smiling).

Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure what is clicking. I definitely feel like I have improved my game overall and maybe that's helping on clay as well.

I have improved several parts of my game, so I feel very comfortable. I'm not thinking about it too much. I'm playing my game. I'm not adapting to anything.

Yeah, just really happy right now, and now is not the time to think about why but just keep going.

Q. You were able to turn the tides on Bianca. You had a really close straight-set match at the US Open semifinals. What do you think today was the difference in getting that first win against her?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I think many things is difference. It was a long time ago. Much has happened. I think it's very good to see her back, first of all. I think I have a lot of respect from her, because I think she's a great player. She's different than others on the court. She's smart.

I would say I think it was a very good match. I worked on my game since then. I have, not different strengths, I still have the same strengths, but I have more strengths now and maybe, you know, she wasn't expecting that or that was maybe a little bit bothering her. But I think it was a solid match.

I still think though I could have played a little bit better, could have done a few things better. That's only a positive thing. On to the next one.

Q. What are some of those strengths that you have now that you speak of? Can you elaborate a bit on that?

BELINDA BENCIC: I think it's just overall with my coach, we have worked for a year now, he's also gave some new inputs to my game. I think his main goal was to improve my game and not change it.

So I think that's very important he, you know, understands what makes me strong and what I have to do in practice to stay strong but also to improve several parts, like of course the serve but also just the patterns of play and all these kind of stuff. The rest I let the opponents figure out.

Q. You were serving incredibly today. I think you had 22 of 25 first-serve points won before 5-1, before things kind of changed. Is that one of the things that you have been able to do better? What was working so well in your serve today?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I mean, it's always key to serve well and it's always the plan to serve well, of course. I think it was just important, I felt comfortable on my serve, and I was still, you know, executing points after the serve good, and I tried to do what I wanted to do. It's always something different. You know, you still have to kind of serve well but then play the point after.

So, you know, the points after serve, it also means your second and third shot is very good. Of course we are working on that, but the serve is also, you know, kind of daily form, it's really detail and it's all about the rhythm.

Today I had it, and I'm really happy about it.