By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, January 13, 2025
Picture credit score: John Buckle/Rolex
Going through a well-known face, Belinda Bencic withstood pleasant hearth to attain her first main win as a mother.
The 2020 Olympic gold-medal champion Bencic beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-6(6) to succeed in the Australian Open second spherical 9 years after her fourth spherical run in Melbourne Park.
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Afterward, Bencic mentioned going through the big-hitting Ostapenko is sort of a tennis model of Russian roulette: each shot will be deadly.
“I feel it is difficult to play her. Generally it seems like a bit little bit of Russian roulette,” Bencic mentioned with a smile. “Generally you are a spectator by yourself courtroom.
“Yeah, I attempted to remain constant, keep powerful in vital moments. Glad that it was sufficient in the present day. Clearly very pleased with the win and with the possibility to play one other spherical.”
When Ostapenko was spraying pictures, Bencic correctly gave her house to hit herself right into a gap. Ostapenko dedicated 10 double faults and scattered 55 unforced errors in comparison with 26 for Bencic.
Presently ranked No. 421—400 spots increased than she was presently final 12 months—Bencic mentioned she’s happy together with her progress in her comeback from maternity depart that started final October. Bencic gave beginning to daughter Bella on April twenty third.
“I felt like in the present day the suggestions generally,” Bencic mentioned. “Yeah, you by no means know if [Ostapenko is] going to hit a winner or miss. Yeah, you by no means know.
“Positively results-wise I am joyful the way it’s going. Step-by-step I really feel higher additionally in observe daily. Clearly you want the outcomes to again it up. Pleased with how the comeback goes to this point.”
Bencic believes motherhood has given her three items: lovely child Bella, perspective that there is extra to life than tennis and persistence for when issues aren’t going her method.
“I do not know if it is further motivation. I really feel like I at all times have motivation to play,” Bencic informed the media in Melbourne. “I do that clearly for myself. I feel it offers me extra type of, like, relaxed mode as a result of I feel I at all times need to do my finest.
“Generally I put an excessive amount of stress on myself. Now I really feel like it’s kind of simpler to play as a result of, yeah, there’s one thing extra vital than tennis.”
In spherical two, Bencic will face 25-year-old Suzan Lamens.