Dubai: You would suspect that a Swiss teenager currently making waves on the WTA Tour would have something to do with a Swiss legend, who had made similar waves on the women’s tour when she won five Grand Slams and was world No. 1 in singles in her heyday. These days, Martina Hingis is well known for her doubles exploits, but not so well known for mentoring Belinda Bencic, the 18-year-old who is on the verge of breaking into the top 10 after making it to the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Bencic first made the world sit up and take notice of her potential during her run to the quarter-finals at the 2014 US Open, when she defeated two top 10 players, including former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, along the way. That propelled her into the top 40 for the first time in her career and won her the WTA Newcomer of the Year award.
Then last season, Bencic made her big breakthrough by winning her first title at the Aegon International, beating Agnieszka Radwanska in the final, which helped her break into the top 20.
Her defining moment came at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, where she beat four top 10 players including Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, world No. 1 Serena Williams and Simona Halep en route to the title.
“It was obviously a big confidence boost for me,” she told Gulf News in an interview ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which begins on February 15.
“It showed me that I can beat players at the very top. It was a big step but I know that I can still improve and have a lot to learn.”
Given her confidence, it is no surprise that the world No. 11 believes she has it in her to win Grand Slam titles. “I like all surfaces and I want to do well at each Grand Slam. If I had to pick one, I think Wimbledon would be my first choice but to be honest, I want to try and win every Grand Slam,” she said.
Being Swiss, it is but natural to be taken under Hingis’ wings and Bencic dedicates quite a lot of her success to the legend, and her coach-mum Melanie Molitor.
“Both Martina and her mum have helped me a lot. I have learned a lot from Martina’s experience. She spends time with me when we are at the same events and whenever I am back in Switzerland, I go to train with Melanie,’ she said.
Bencic played in Dubai last year and while she hopes to go better than the second round that she managed, the teen is aware of the task at hand. “Dubai has an extremely strong player field this year, but like any other tournament I want to win the whole thing. I try not to think too far ahead though, I will be taking it one match at a time,” she said.
With her being so close to cracking the top 10, what other goals does she have for this year?
“My goals for this year are to not only break into the top 10, but to win slams and, hopefully, reach No. 1. I think every tennis player dreams of reaching world No. 1 and I am no different,” she said.
