US OPEN

August 25, 2026

Belinda Bencic

Flavio Cobolli

Press Conference

BENCIC-COBOLLI/Williams-Alcaraz

5-4, 4-1

THE MODERATOR: Belinda, Flavio, congratulations. We'll start with a brief comment from each of you about your matches today and looking ahead to tomorrow.

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, obviously good day for us. Super happy that we are playing again. Yeah, the last time we play was Indian Wells, so was a while ago. We clearly had a good time today. Very excited for tomorrow.

Yeah, we were also really happy to play against Serena and Carlos. Was a really nice match for us. Just a great experience overall, so yeah.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Yeah, for me is the same. Is almost six month I wait that moment to play again with Belinda the mix. It happens here. I love to share the court with her. Also because we play with two legend of our sport, Arthur Ashe. Everything was incredible. I will never forget in my life, for sure.

For us, the tournament is not done. We have the semis tomorrow. We keep be focused for tomorrow and let's see how it's going.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. Was it surreal playing against both Alcaraz and Serena on the same court, players of very different generations? Also, it's been a very good day overall for singles players, but not for doubles specialists. Do you think something has changed that singles players have had such a big day?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: What did you say?

Q. There were some teams that were doubles specialists, but none of them made it to the semifinals.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: No, I mean, play with Serena, I never expect in my life. But was something incredible. I know that we have different generation, but she still is unbelievable on the court. Great effort. She's really, really nice.

She tried to intimidate me before the match, but didn't work (smiling).

Q. What did she do?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: She said that she talk Italian better than me (smiling).

BELINDA BENCIC: For me the same. I'm really lucky I was able to play Serena already couple of times in my career. For me, it was surreal to play against Carlos.

Sometimes I was just standing at the volley or the return, and I was like, How did I end up on this court? I don't really know.

Just a huge honor. Obviously you can feel both of their auras. Yeah, was really nice.

Q. Flavio, you seemed to be so determined and focused today. Talk about that.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Everybody says the same thing.

Yeah, I mean, for me is still Grand Slam, so for me is not just an exhibition. I try to enjoy every moment that I spend on court, but still with focus. I think the match deserve it. Also because I play with two legends.

If you stop to be focus on court, you lose. I didn't want to lose today.

Q. There's been some changes to the Ashe Stadium since last year. Did you notice it, and did it affect the atmosphere?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I never play so many matches on Arthur, so I didn't see any change.

BELINDA BENCIC: I didn't notice. I mean, I don't really think I had the time. We obviously, like, didn't warm up on Ashe, then just went to play the match. I have this rule, when I play the match, I never look up.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Me, yes.

BELINDA BENCIC: You look everywhere. I kind of like try not to look because it's, like, so big, then I get nervous and everything. I just look on the court, so I don't really noticed it.

Q. Is that here or everywhere?

BELINDA BENCIC: Everywhere.

Q. Flavio, in Indian Wells you said you essentially let Belinda decide what you're going to do and you were just doing it. Has something changed now?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Like I said before, there is no leader on this duo. We take the decision together. For me, I mean, her, she's the boss, but she don't want to say that. There is no leader. We play everything together.

Q. Belinda?

BELINDA BENCIC: I disagree. No, I mean, as he said, I think it's a teamwork. I definitely ask him sometimes if I'm unsure about something, What do you think? I think he can give me advice obviously with the ATP players.

I mean, if he feels like he wants to ask me about the WTA girls, I think we have a really good communication, like a good chemistry without talking maybe like much. Yeah, playing instinctively, covering the courts.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Also for me English, that is something that is not easy (smiling).

BELINDA BENCIC: No, I think he's doing well (smiling).

Q. How do you approach these matches mentally and physically different from how you approach your singles matches? Is there a difference in your preparation or how you go about things in practice?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I mean, I think the routine is the same. Maybe we do a little bit less than what we do for the singles match. Still almost the same preparation and same routine that we do every day.

Q. How does it feel thinking you could win a Grand Slam tomorrow night after starting the tournament a few hours ago?

BELINDA BENCIC: I don't know. I think we're focusing on our semifinals first of all. I think also on the first match we kind of focus, then we get off the court, we see we have to get ready for the next warm-up. I don't think our thoughts is already on the next match while we're playing it. I mean, step by step.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: For me the mixed doubles has to be like this, fast and with this great atmosphere that we have on these two days. So for me is the perfect thing to start the tournament.

Q. You all had a lot of success at Indian Wells, beat a lot of great doubles pairings. Speak to why you both feel like you play well together. Would you consider playing together at other slams?

BELINDA BENCIC: Well, I think Flavio had such a great season and so many matches that he played. He's really, like, one of the top players in the world. I think his focus should definitely be on the singles.

Yeah, it's also tough to play mixed when it's in the second week obviously. So here I think it's a great preparation for us. We're already here in New York.

As why we play good together, I don't know. Yeah, I mean, we're just enjoying playing with each other. Also practicing with each other before the match, that helps a lot to kind of, yeah, know each other, what likely the other player's going to do, so the other one kind of knows. Maybe that it's. I didn't overthink it much.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Yeah, I agree with her. We both are singles players, so we are focused on our single career. If we have any chance to play doubles together, we play. Like in Indian Wells, like here that the mixed starts a little bit early and we have time to recover and be focused for the singles.

I think you guys don't see us in other slam. But if it's like this, or the mixed double become like this in the other slam, maybe we can play other times.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you both.