THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2023

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/M. Linette

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Just your initial thoughts on today's match.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I'm super happy with the win. I think I played really well. I played tactically well, I think, and yeah, I think some games were really close, so I think the result does not really speak for how the match really went.

Yeah, super excited to get to play fourth round here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Can you assess your quite strange up-and-down season. You started so well with a new coach, and then suddenly was it very frustrating to both split from Tursunov and then get that injury during the clay season?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, of course it's very frustrating, but I still think my confidence level is up there because I really had a great start to the season and then simply just couldn't play.

Of course I tried the best to get healthy as soon as possible. I mean, I missed a few tournaments, but it's not the end of the world. It's not like it has been a really long injury. So I'm happy to be back playing, especially here in Wimbledon.

Q. What were the different reasons, different directions that you and Tursunov wanted to go in that led to the split? Because you were very positive at the start of the season about working on perfectionism, working on your mindset with him.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I think it was very unexpected. I think things were going really well, but I think we just had some differences in the end that just we weren't able to ignore, so that's why we split.

Q. I'm not quite sure if she's wrapped it up yet, but Iga was just about to wrap up her match. She would be your next opponent. What are your thoughts from having played her before and where she is now?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I played her this year actually in United Cup in Brisbane. I think that was a really high-quality match. I think it was the second match for the season.

My season went also I think really good, and of course, you know, she's the best in the world and she's winning a lot of the matches. She is very consistent.

I'm really up for the challenge. I'm excited to play her. I think I'm a player that I play well against, you know, top players.

Q. What is it specifically about her that impresses you the most?

BELINDA BENCIC: I think it's her movement, absolutely. I think no one has ever moved like that in the woman's game like her.