AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2023

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/C. Giorgi

6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Well done on that win today. Camila is obviously a really dangerous opponent. How does it feel to get that under your belt?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, it feels very good. I'm happy with the win. Of course she's very explosive player. She has a lot of power when she hits the ball.

It's not easy, of course, to play against her, but I think I was mentally ready for that. I mean, you always, like, try to really focus and stay in the match, because you never know. You know, she's very streaky player, goes hot and cold a lot of times.

Even though she broke me back after, I just tried to keep doing the same thing, and I'm happy I served it out in the second chance.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How does it feel to just be able to start your slam season with a second week? What do you think has been the key to just kind of maintaining a really good level throughout the opening week?

BELINDA BENCIC: Feels better than last year (smiling). Feels very good, of course, but, I mean, it's three wins now. It's some good wins. But still, you know, I'm going further. I'm ready for that.

Yeah, I feel very good with my tennis so far. I feel like I have played solid. I mean, this is the way to go, just to stay strong during these kind of matches, as well.

But still, you know, I have more in front of me, so...

Q. You mentioned on court, you gave credit to Dmitry for the work he's been doing with you. I want to know what you talked about being out of your comfort zone with him. What is it he's brought to your game? He was a fiery player on court. I know you can be sometimes. Does the personal relationship work just as well as the tennis? Has he forgiven you for acing him in practice?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, good one (smiling). I like that you saw it and you mention it so we can talk about that more. (Laughter.)

Yeah, I mean, he's definitely very, like, tough coach, for sure. He definitely, like, doesn't talk about everything else and the point and just really tells you what you need to hear, and sometimes you really need to hear the uncomfortable stuff.

I mean, that's really what I'm looking for. I'm, you know, trying to improve everything, but I definitely -- he just pushes me a lot, so it puts me out of my comfort zone, you know. So I don't feel like, Oh, I'm playing so well in practice, everything is great. Like then I come to the match, and you know in the match you're also out of your comfort zone.

I mean, definitely I feel like I'm trying to do what he's telling me. It's working so far, so I'm definitely trusting him a lot. I just feel like we have a great year in front of us.

Q. Acing him...

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, on acing him, it's just standard routine, like I do that every practice against him, and he cannot read my serve, and he's also returning really bad (laughter).

Q. On that topic, you have now worked obviously with Dmitry a few months and you cracked a joke in the last press conference about this is what he does with all his players, they all have really good results right away. But having worked with him a few months, can you see why he's an immediate impact kind of guy?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I can definitely see why. I mean, it's not a big change. It's not like he just takes the magic something and just aims at you and you suddenly gonna play well.

It's also, like, you have to be kind of, yeah, ready to do what he's demanding of you every time in every practice. For sure I think it starts in the practice. It's not, yeah, just like transfer into the matches right away.

So of course you need a little bit of time. But it's just really small changes in, like, your game, just to try to be a little bit tougher, try to be more disciplined. It's actually a big difference. I said even to him, like, in a way I feel so stupid why I didn't do that like these kind of things before.

But I think it's really lucky for me that I can get to work with him. I wish it would have happened sooner maybe now that I know, but I'm really happy that it's happening now, and I'm gonna for sure work hard and try to do the best.

Q. Wonder whether or not you would have when you were younger been as receptive to kind of his direct manner of speaking, of coaching, or maybe now is just kind of the perfect moment, like you're more mature, you're more secure, you can hear like those uncomfortable truths.

BELINDA BENCIC: Well, I think I'm kind of used to that. I had Melanie Molitor. I think she's also very direct and tough. I mean, I'm used to that. I'm not like someone who is, like, Oh, like don't criticize me. I'm used to it.

So it's definitely not something I take, like, personal towards me as a person, but I, like, know how to deal with criticism. But for sure, like, all the coaches I had were also helping me in very different ways. For sure like I think everything happens for something, the reason.

So I think at that point I was just meant to have these kind of coaches so I could like learn several things about myself.

So, yeah, for sure, maybe like now this is the right point. I don't know if it would be better if I would meet him before. But yeah, like, I would believe that, yeah, it would, but I think I'm also very happy that it's happening now.

I mean, hopefully I can just really keep going, like keeping the focus up and just not thinking about, yeah, just unnecessary things.

Q. Sabalenka or Mertens, how do you see both of those potential matchups?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, obviously both are very good top players, actually. They know both how to play. Of course Sabalenka is very aggressive player, has a lot of power. Still, I think I played her two times maybe, so I remember that correctly. So yeah, for sure. And also, Dmitry was her coach before, so he can help me a lot, I hope.

Then against Mertens, same. I think she's very good, also counterpuncher, striking, serving pretty good. So I'm gonna watch the match and just gonna make the plan. It's important to focus on myself, as well.