AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2023

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/C. Liu

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Belinda, well done tonight. Talk us through your thoughts on the match and also how pleased you are to get through that in two sets.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I'm pleased to get that through. First of all, to get through the match, and then second in two sets.

I thought I was fighting with all I could. I thought my game could have been more free, let's say like that. I felt, yeah, I could have done better in some things. But, of course, my opponent was also like her reward that I wasn't able to play so good.

Yeah, I'm happy with the way I fight. Done in two sets. Playing doubles tomorrow. Next singles. What is today?

THE MODERATOR: Singles will be Saturday.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In terms of adjusting, because obviously in Adelaide it was hot, in Brisbane effectively indoors, how have you been finding it here, figuring out with the weather and everything, how to best play?

BELINDA BENCIC: Very tricky because this was actually my first outdoor match of the season (smiling). In Brisbane we were always playing under the covers, practicing under the covers. Adelaide was the same thing. Every match I played center court was under the covers. Sometimes I was practicing outside. Then same here.

It was raining, was the heat, so I had the roof closed the first time. The next day we were practicing just indoors.

Today outdoors, it was different. I don't know, like I think it's always different if it's flying the ball or if it's not flying, if it's evening, if it's cold, if it's hot. It's really difficult to adjust.

Today I felt like in a way it was not flying, but maybe it was also me being, like, tight in my arm, like this. Yeah, so it's difficult to adjust, but it's the same for everybody, so...

Q. How different did it feel coming into Melbourne off of really great performances to start the season, obviously the title in Adelaide as well? Confidence-wise, game-wise, mentality-wise, is this as good as you've felt going into a slam or no?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I mean, for sure. Also result-wise. Also from my game, I thought in Adelaide the matches were really good from my side, also a good test because I had different kind of opponents from the game style.

I was happy I was putting things from the practice court into the match. That was great. I mean, I'm happy with the title, for sure, and just with the good results.

But still, you know, you come to Grand Slam, it starts from zero. It doesn't help me any more I won Adelaide. Congrats to me, but now what?

I'm trying to, like, fight through every match here as well and go as far as possible.

Q. Did it help though because of bringing on Dmitry at the end of last season and the things you have been working on on the mental side, did it help to have quickly that reward that says this is working in Adelaide?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I think it's very important. The input he has give me in actually such a short time, it's already showing improvements. The good thing is I still feel like there is so much more to do and more that I can work on and improve and everything.

But I'm really happy to have him by my side actually because I can really feel like some of the things we are changing or we are improving.

I mean, he kind of has that effect on his players to have the results right away. I think it's important not to think about the result, but more about really the work that we put into and then let the results come automatically if you are doing the right work.

But, yeah, I'm really happy how it's going so far with him. Yeah, hopefully I can follow more what he says and bring it into the match and just work like this for the season.

I feel like it's good things coming.

Q. Do you feel with where your head and game is at now that you're playing well enough to win the Australian Open?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I mean, but it's difficult to say. Like, I'm playing well enough so far, but then I don't know how I'm going to play on Saturday and I don't know how I'm going to play the next matches. It's always different.

Sometimes you are feeling great. You can win the same morning and lose to the same person in the evening. It's always so many circumstances. It's really difficult for me to say, Okay, just because now I won Adelaide, I won a few matches in a row, now suddenly I have to win the Australian Open.

It's nice for everybody to say around, She's the favorite or she can be one of the favorites or she has a chance.

It's still every match is different. I experienced a lot of times I was feeling very good all the tournament, and suddenly comes the match and I don't know how to play tennis any more.

Yeah, I have to really focus on just what I have to do and just block out the noise outside.

Q. In terms of blocking out the noise.

BELINDA BENCIC: It's like we're having a conversation with spectators (smiling).

Q. In terms of blocking out the noise, there has been a lot of chatter and hype around the way that you're playing, people believing you are a shortlist favorite to win the title. Do you block that out, just accept it at this point in your career?

BELINDA BENCIC: I mean, there's always things that you are aware of. Maybe even unconsciously you are aware of what people are saying.

Also on the other side I'm thinking, who are these people? Are they me when I'm playing on the court? Do they know how I feel, sleep, wake up, how I eat, how my body feels?

You never know what's really going on. Yeah, so you of course you can feel maybe more attention or more hype, but it's for everyone. I feel like last year Madison Keys won Adelaide, then suddenly she was the favorite to win. It's like every tournament is different.

People are so quick to, like, shift to, This one is in form, this one and this one. It's not helping me on the court, so why should I think about it?