Gulf News

Buoyant Bencic looks to scalp Serena

Swiss miss inspired by drumbeatin­g Federer in Hopman Cup

-

It was when she spotted Roger Federer pretending to play the bongo drums during one of her matches at the Hopman Cup in Perth this month that Belinda Bencic really knew she was having fun.

And that fun, combined with a few tips from the record 17-time grand-slam winner, has left the 19-year-old in the mood to cause Serena Williams a few problems when they meet in the first round of the Australian Open today.

“That was the best thing,” Bencic said, laughing at the memory of Federer hamming it up with some shadow drumming. “I won like four games (in a row) after that.” Bencic, a former junior Wimbledon and French Open champion, combined with Federer to make a formidable mixed doubles partnershi­p.

Spending time with the 35-year-old former world No. 1 inspired Bencic and renewed her belief that she can climb back up the rankings from her current mark of 59th after a frustratin­g 2016 season interrupte­d by a number of injuries. “He’s very fun,” said Bencic. “We got to know each other and he gave me advice, tips. He’s such a relaxed and nice person, off the court, he makes you relaxed.” The tips were wide ranging. How to set up your team, how to deal with the media, injuries, dealing with losing, with pressure, everything. It was great.” Williams, a six-times champion in Melbourne, is the clear favourite for their first-round match but Bencic plans to draw on her victory when they played in Canada in 2015. “At the start of that match not much went right but I was just trying to hang in there, enjoy being on the court against her, play good rallies, good shots and always fight,” Bencic said of her 3-6 7-5 6-4 win.

“She had a (bad) phase and that’s when I could turn it around.”

 ?? AFP ?? Belinda Bencic is armed with a few tips from Roger Federer as she begins her Australian Open against Serena Williams.
AFP Belinda Bencic is armed with a few tips from Roger Federer as she begins her Australian Open against Serena Williams.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates