THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2023

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/B. Bencic

6-7, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: It was a tough match. Could you just give us your initial thoughts.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I mean, as you can imagine, of course it hurts right now, but I still, I think I'm still super proud of myself. I also do not have any regrets like in terms what I would have done different today on the court.

Yeah, I thought it was a great match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. And you had no regret on match points?

BELINDA BENCIC: No, I don't think so. I made two good returns, and of course I tried to make her play. She came up with a great shot. That's well done from her.

I would do the same thing again.

Q. Obviously the double faults were important, but you had a lot of strapping. Did that affect your serve in any way?

BELINDA BENCIC: Well, yes. I mean, I did a lot of double faults, but also against the World No. 1 you don't just push your serve in the second serve. So it's always, you know, something you give and something you get.

So I obviously tried to risk a little bit more in the second serve and tried to make her more uncomfortable with her return but I sacrificed some double faults for that.

Q. That wasn't a problem then?

BELINDA BENCIC: I mean, look, I played. My shoulder was fine when I played.

Q. In terms of the match, we could say that your performance was like extraordinary. But would you agree that despite that you lost today, your level of tennis was really great, right? Would you agree with that, that you played really good despite your loss, unfortunately?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, I mean, I didn't play bad. That's for sure. I played good.

But I also think that I can play at this level. So it's not like I went above my limit, let's say, because I know that, you know, I can play against these players and play well.

But of course it was very close. But yeah, of course it was a great match. There is always room for improvement, but yeah, I of course didn't play bad.

Q. At the end, did you miss some extra matches?

BELINDA BENCIC: No, I don't think that was the issue today.

Q. Were there ways in which it seemed Iga improved her level in that third set?

BELINDA BENCIC: I mean, she really came up with great shots and great rallies in very important moments. I thought her depth was great in difficult moments.

I mean, I really think -- she also, I think she's really good at hitting the lines. But please don't get me wrong in any way, I would think that that's lucky, but I think just she's incredibly precise or just has great depth and kind of the balls are really, really deep into your feet. There were I think a lot of lines as well.

So, I mean, it's really credits to her. But yeah, still I think it was incredible match. Of course, you know, she's No. 1 in the world so she's not going to give me the match just like that, but still I think I threw everything I could at her, and I pushed her to the limit.

In that case, I'm super proud of how it went from my side.

Q. What was, from your side, if you could pick one thing which was the hardest to deal with in terms of Iga's tennis, if you could pick one thing, which was the hardest one?

BELINDA BENCIC: Well, I mean, the whole match was hard. Of course I don't want to say that it was a really big challenge. I just think I handled it really well, and I think in the end it was just, you know, the points here and there. You know, the match points, she hit winners. Also in the last game, you know, it was 30-All, she did great winners.

So yeah, I think of course she's capable of doing that. But I was also aware of that before.