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PERTH, AUSTRALIA : Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic of Switzerland talk tactics in the mixed doubles match against Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe of the United States during day four of the 2019 Hopman Cup at RAC Arena on in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA : Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic of Switzerland talk tactics in the mixed doubles match against Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe of the United States during day four of the 2019 Hopman Cup at RAC Arena on in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The recently concluded Tokyo Olympic Games produced some sensational tennis. In the women’s singles, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic defied all odds to claim the coveted gold medal. At the start of the tournament, not many would’ve predicted what unfolded. However, Bencic displayed some swashbuckling shot making to go all the way. Along the way, she received a lot of support from some of the best, including countryman Roger Federer.
24-year-old Belinda Bencic dominates the Olympic Games
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Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Tennis – Women’s Singles – Gold medal match – Ariake Tennis Park – Tokyo, Japan – July 31, 2021. Belinda Bencic of Switzerland reacts after winning her gold medal match against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic REUTERS/Mike Segar
In the very first round, the Swiss youngster faced a tough opponent in USA’s Jessica Pegula. Contrary to what many had expected, Bencic fought and earned herself a straight sets victory. The win offered a glimmer of hope to her, as her level was very high. Bencic’s forehand in particular was wreaking havoc on the slow hard-courts at Tokyo. Her next big challenge was in Round-3, where she came from a set down to overcome French Open 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova.
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As she continued her steady progress, Bencic eventually reached the grandest stage of them all. An Olympic final was beckoning, where she was up against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic. The pair exchanged blow for blow, with Bencic striking first and the southpaw fighting back. In the deciding set, it was the former World No.4 Belinda Bencic who created history. She won the gold medal with a 7-5 2-6 6-3 victory.
Roger Federer cheered her on, says Bencic
Throughout the course of the tournament, the Swiss star self-admittedly received a lot of support. This perhaps elevated her game, producing some of her best tennis in national colors. Among those who riled her on, was the great Roger Federer. As Bencic recently said in an interview with Simon Cambers, the 20-time Grand Slam champion supported her right through the campaign.
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Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 3, 2021 Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates winning his third round match against Britain’s Cameron Norrie Pool via REUTERS/Jed Leicester
“He [Federer] was very genuinely happy and it made me also very happy. Every match he was cheering for me and sending me nice messages. Just generally, even when you’re not asking him for tips, just talking normally, you can learn so many things [talking about] how you feel in this situation, how was it for you. It’s so much for me already and so many people don’t have that so I would call myself very lucky to have this kind of support.”
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Next up, Belinda Bencic will feature in the US Open 2021. She has been a semifinalist in the tournament before, and will look to repeat her hard-court heroics. If she can capture the final major of the year, this will easily be the best year in the youngster’s blooming career!
