AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2023

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/V. Tomova

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Belinda, congratulations on your first-round win. Can you just talk us through your match and your performance.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I'm really happy with my win. I'm happy I kind of didn't have to wait for the heat and with the rain. I was lucky to get a covered court. Also, I really like when it's closed.

I thought it was a good match. We had some good rallies. It was really good round for me to kind of get into the match, and I'm happy with my performance.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. I think it's pretty fair to say you arrive in Melbourne with high expectations due to the trophy in Adelaide, can see as a favorite to win. How is your expectations? You feel more confident because you win in Adelaide?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I mean, there is always someone who is the favorite. I don't really see myself as the absolute favorite. I'm really just trying to do my job and trying to have the same mindset like in Adelaide because I felt like I was really doing good there, just how I was approaching the matches and how I was in the matches.

Yeah, I mean, I definitely see myself as one of the best players that can play and win, hopefully, but it doesn't help me to see myself as a favorite. I just have to go to the court and do my job. I think it doesn't help me what happen in Adelaide. When I go to the court here for the first round it starts from zero. It's not going to help me anything.

But of course I feel more confident.