THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2025

Belinda Bencic

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/M. Andreeva

7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Belinda, nice win this afternoon. If you could talk us through the win.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I'm really happy with the win, of course. It was a very close match. I'm happy with the way I played in the tiebreaks. I stayed brave and stuck to the plan.

I'm really excited to play the semifinals tomorrow. Of course, it doesn't end here. It's a little bit different because we don't have the day off tomorrow, so I'm already trying to focus on my next match tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Mirra is a very awkward opponent to have. You said you stuck to your game plan. What was the game plan to combat her style?

BELINDA BENCIC: I wouldn't call her awkward. I would call her a player with a lot of variation, which is really nice to see. It's maybe a little bit awkward when you see all the players that are just hitting hard and having not so much variety. I actually appreciate watching her. Of course, it's more difficult to play her.

What I did is just studied her a lot last night to see some patterns and some things she's doing. I felt like I was prepared to play today because I haven't played her in a match before. Didn't really know how that would feel like, so I'm happy with the game plan I came up with.

Q. How special for you is it that you're playing in the semis here? If you could say some words about your next opponent, Iga.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I'm really excited for this match. I think we've had some good matches in the past. Obviously, she's a player with a lot of quality, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play her again. I hope I will be prepared as best as I can for tomorrow.

Q. After the arm injury, you missed Roland Garros, and you lost early in Bod Hamburg. What did you do in between Bod Hamburg and here at Wimbledon? Were you training with Iain in the UK?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, we stayed a couple of days in Bod Hamburg because I had my hitting pattern there, and we just did a lot of practice and trying to get not used to the grass. But before Bod Hamburg I wasn't able to practice as much as I wanted. We kind of tried to push a little bit more.

Then also here, have some quality practices, and I felt like I got better every day. So that's what we did.

Q. You were serving for the match, and you got broken. You managed to regroup and play an excellent tiebreak. How did you manage to do that? What was going through your head at the time?

BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. I tried to forget some setbacks, and some games that you fail to serve or to return, I tried to forget it very quickly. I think as a tennis player you need to do that. Just tried to also be ready if I don't win the second set to go for a third one. I think that's all you can do in this moment.

Yeah, I think that's it.

Q. It's been 45 years since a mother won Wimbledon. If you were to do it, how inspiring do you think that would be for other women who played to become mothers?

BELINDA BENCIC: I play my semifinal first, and then we can talk.

Q. This match with you and Iga will be two former junior champions here. Juniors obviously play during the second week of the tournament, so the grass is a little bit different. Your experience having been here a lot, how different do you find the surface in the second week of the tournament? People say it's more like a clay court almost.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I mean, I think it's a little bit of a difference that the first few days I find the grass a little bit more slippery and little bit more difficult to move maybe. So I'm actually a bit happier when it's a little bit worn out, and I call it warmed up.

For sure it's been a little bit different this year. It's been hot the first few days. I still think these courts have amazing quality. I don't find that there's a lot of bad bounces or something different.

For me, it's actually really nice. Of course, every grass court is different. Also, when you practice in Aorangi, it's not the same, but I think you adapt to it really quickly.

Q. You spoke a bit about facing Iga. What would you say are the biggest similarities and differences in your games?

BELINDA BENCIC: I don't think we play similar at all. I think she plays very physical and puts a lot of spin on the ball. I think I take the ball really early, play a little bit more flat.

I mean, it's going to be very interesting game to also see. I think we played a few times, and it was a good match. So hopefully for the same.

I think I didn't have enough time yet to think about her too much. I will take some time this evening to make up a tactic again.

Q. You talked about the plan, like tactics, against Mirra. Some players would say that they like to focus on yourself more than your opponent. Some players would say they like to follow their instinct. How about you? How important for you to prepare the tactic and analyze your opponent?

BELINDA BENCIC: I think it's a little bit of both. I really try to have a plan when I go on the court. I don't like just going out and kind of freestyling it. I like to be clear about what I'm trying to do. Of course, you have to stick to yourself also and stick to your game.

But I think what I do well maybe all my career is try to adapt to the different opponent and try to be able to also play a little bit different and have a few plans what to do.

I'm not a player that just goes, like, Plan A, doesn't matter what happens. I'm able to adapt to my opponent. I think that's what makes my game.

Q. How do you manage with your daughter the atmosphere of your concentration before a match like this? What changed after the last years? It looks like you were relaxed.

BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. I feel like I'm still focused. It's just different. I think it's just really natural at this point. It's not something that takes away my focus. Sometimes I think it's even better when I'm not too focused.

I don't feel so nervous before the match, and I'm just doing what I have to do. It's not something that is calculated, I would say. It's just very natural. I am able to switch on when I'm on the court and be focused.

Q. You were talking a little bit about how you plan for a match. I'm just intrigued. When you go home tonight, do you write those plans down? I imagine you're watching footage of Iga as well. Do you write out what you're thinking or more talking about it with your team?

BELINDA BENCIC: I think it's more talking about it. I would say I'm more like visual person. So even without me trying to lie down and visualize, I automatically do it. I'm not so much of a writer. For me it's more like imagining some plays. For me it's important for me to do it before I go to sleep. While I'm falling asleep, I go through it unconsciously.

I think it's something that happens natural and then I'm able to kind of, like, memorize it a little bit, yeah.

Q. Dream about it?

BELINDA BENCIC: Dream? Well, let's not go too far (laughter). I hope I have some different dreams than my next match.