AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 11, 2025

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Belinda, why don't you give us your thoughts on being back here in Melbourne after taking some time off.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, really nice thoughts. I'm happy to be back here. It was nice, you know, to play also in Sydney and in Adelaide, to get some good matches in, and now we're here preparing.

Yeah, my first match on Monday, so really excited and excited to be back.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. I saw that you said that you were thinking you can play at your best level after having a child. Do you even feel like having a child can make a player play better?

BELINDA BENCIC: It's tough to say. I think it's very individual. I definitely believe that physically and from the tennis-wise you can become in the same level and play better. But I don't think it's maybe related so much, like, if you have child or not. I think it's just about, you know, coming back the same way, because I think people still doubt that a bit.

But for me it was a very clear decision, let's say, and I was definitely inspired by other moms on tour but also other athletes that are moms. For us, this situation worked out best, and hopefully I can have my best tennis in front of me.

Q. You're back on the court. I was wondering what your 2025 goal is for tennis and what your 2025 goal is outside of tennis.

BELINDA BENCIC: My 2025 goal for tennis is for sure to move up the rankings. I don't want to really name a number, but kind of, you know, to be back, you know, so I can enter tournaments myself. I have the protected ranking right now, so it's a bit, you know, tricky to see which tournaments am I going to play, where do I get a wildcard. So hopefully I can kind of be back where I left.

Outside of the court is just to stay healthy, to have health for my family, and yeah, to enjoy our time and to see our family growing.

Q. How is the organization? I have a baby the same age as yours.

BELINDA BENCIC: Really? Congrats to you.

Q. If you wake up at night, do you have the same schedule as a normal mom, or do you still have the preference for your tennis career?

BELINDA BENCIC: Well, I have to say she's really good baby, so she's not really -- she's sleeping really good. So she's just waking up one or two times per night.

I kind of feel like the body adapts so much. Like, also with less sleep, I'm functioning the same, like, you know, with sleep before.

I mean, I think I practice maybe a little bit less. I feel like I practice less but I use it more. You know, I'm more intense on the practice court. I'm kind of more, let's say, yeah. I don't even think that I'm not spending enough time with her. I think it's just, like, a normal mom.

Yeah, so I try to do the best, you know, like, on my time in the practice and then to be with the family. It's easier for me now to separate these two things.

Q. I know that you said you talked to many moms on the tour, but what about Roger? Did you talk to him? Did you ask him for any tips?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, for sure. I mean, we talk from time to time. Of course, he has four kids so that's a whole different situation.

You know, I saw them at the Hopman Cup and also in the Grand Slams, and it's just impressive how the whole logistics works with them. I think that's something we can pick up from and learn from it, but for now I think we are managing it really good.

But as I said, you know, even here in Australia, it's a test for us. It's our first long trip, and I think we are seeing how we are managing everything.

But for now it's good.

Q. If you could pick one skill set from another player, what player would it be and what skill set would it be, past or present?

BELINDA BENCIC: Past or present? That's a really good question.

I would like to have a slice maybe like Ashleigh Barty or Roger. Yeah, and maybe like moving, like, really fast like, yeah, I don't know (smiling). Nadal. And Radwanska's dropshot. Yeah.