March 2, 2021 • 11 mins
Daniela chats with WTA Tour star Belinda Bencic. Belinda discusses the DNA of coming back from injury, what she and Daniela love about Roland Garros, and the changes that players face on the tour battling Covid.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Well, Balinda, thank you so much for time finding the
time for us. And finally, it's so cool to have
you on our show. It's been it's been you. I
mean I wanted to talk to you for quite some time.
So thanks for finding the energy after a long days
of practice these days. Thank you. Thanks so much for
having me. I really appreciate and I look forward to
talking with you. So tell me the last twelve months,
(00:38):
how much has tennis changed for you and what are
some of the biggest challenges that you had to face. Well,
how much tennis changed for me? Um, it changed basically
that I'm practicing a lot, and definitely last year was
to forget. I would say it almost felt like we
never played, even though we played some tournaments in the
(00:59):
start of the year and then somewhere in the end
of the year. But um yeah, I definitely want to
forget that year and continue and hopefully this year we
can play. And I think everyone's got a little bit
used to, like, um, the conditions nowadays and how to
make a tournament in these conditions. So um yeah, I
mean I definitely missed tennis and I definitely want to
(01:24):
kind of play the tournaments and even in these conditions. So,
um yeah, I really appreciate playing now and I appreciate
everyone kind of giving us the chance to do so.
We were just chatting about it quickly before that. There
are so many things you have to worry about these
days mentally that must be taking a lot of energy
out of you. Guys. How do you keep you know,
(01:45):
just motivated and focused, you know, staying on track and
despite you know, you have to fill out so many
papers to start with just to get to the tournaments. Yeah,
it's true. I mean it's definitely much different conditions than
we are used to so it definitely took some time,
um to figure out everything. Traveling is not so easy anymore,
so we have to do all the tests and you
(02:06):
know a lot of tests, that's for sure. Um and
um yeah, it's it's very difficult. Also in the tournament,
you can you cannot move around. You're just in your
hotel room and the tennis courts. So it's really difficult
to stay sane and to stay kind of in your
routine because your routine has changed completely. And um yeah,
(02:27):
definitely it's a lot of focus on tennis now, no
more going out for dinners and uh yeah, having some
nice food and um. But still, you know, I feel
like this is our job and if it's like this
the situation, we have to accept it and we have
to do everything we can just to place. So um yeah,
still it's it's fun to be on the tournament, but
definitely it was better before. Let's talk Paris a little bit.
(02:53):
You have won the junior tournament, um in Paris at
a very young age. How important was that for you
your career at the beginning? Yeah, I mean I have
beautiful memories from there. Um for sure. It's also the
first ever grandson that I played in the juniors. I
lost first round, but I still remember the feeling walking
(03:14):
on the side for the first time. I was overwhelmed,
I was not able to play, and um, definitely this
this gave me so much like experienced and just like
a look how it looks like on the Grand Slam tournament.
So um yeah, for sure, I mean winning this first
Grand Slam I will never forget. You know, I still
have all these memories in front of me, and every
(03:35):
time you know, I come, I come back to Paris, Um,
it feels great. So for sure, you know, I hope
I can have a little bit better results now on clay. Um,
but yeah, trying so hopefully I can do some better
results in the rolling Garrors to now on the on
the pros, I'm sure you will. You still have a
long way in front of you, so I'm sure your
(03:56):
time will come when it's you to um uh Roland
Garros being obviously the most elegant tournament if you can
think of male and female players that represent the style
and elegance for your current or former from the history.
Oh well, I have to say on the male side,
(04:17):
Raphael Nadal, I mean, for sure it's his tournament. I
think it should be. Um, yeah, for sure he's And
on the woman's side, Um, it's difficult. Um, it doesn't
have to be really like she's on lang Land. Yeah,
yeah for sure. I mean with the you know, like
(04:37):
talking about elegant, you know, with the skirts and everything.
Um yeah, they had kind of different outfits than we
have now. But I mean that's what comes to my mind.
So yeah, these two can imagine if we had to
play in those skirts these days, you know, no way,
no I even complain now sometimes that okay I don't
(04:58):
feel comfortable. Yeah, very different. If you have to describe
around Garrols in free words, what would it be? Well, um,
French obviously obviously, but you know, like you come there
(05:18):
and it's it's just French. It feels very French. Um
um yeah, difficult cross worlds. I mean you go to
the caffine. Everyone is eating cross on there, so you
kind of want also and um petite maybe small perfect,
(05:44):
small and nice and different. You've been away from the
(06:04):
game for some injuries for quite some time, then you
had an incredible come back. How much um, you know,
not being able to play tennis has given you the
perspective of the game. Yeah, for sure. I mean that's
the biggest thing that the injuries have taught me. Um.
So I'm definitely in this moment, of course, you're very
frustrated you're having this injury and like why is this
(06:26):
and why that? But after that you you you appreciate
it so much more and it kind of gives you
more more motivation and more kind of yeah perspective to it,
so you appreciate it more and definitely, um yeah, sometimes
your motivation is a little bit low, but then when
you get injured and you cannot play at all, then
you feel very motivated to come back you want to
(06:46):
play again, so this kind of joy and yeah, perspective
kind of lifts you up again for the comeback. So
that's for sure the main thing that I I learned
and I kind of still remember it when I also
this year when I couldn't play, you know, I enjoyed
it so much to be at home as well, you know,
not to travel so much. But still I have the
hunger again for the for the tennis. So that's for
(07:10):
sure something that um, yeah, it's teaching me. Well, talking
about home, this is actually very funny because I'm at
your home. Well I don't know which one you actually
call home, but I mean, and we both come Slovakia.
So where do you actually feel the most home and
what are some of the qualities that actually both countries
(07:30):
brought into your life. Yeah, I mean it's a very
tough question. Of course, I'm born in Switzerland, and I
kind of I have always say I'm being raised there.
I lived there all my life, and but both of
my parents are from Slovakia, so of course I know
the language they taught me, and you know, some of
(07:50):
the kind of traditions and everything, and um, I've visited
Slovakia a lot of times. I have family there, and
now the last three three I've been. Yeah, some I'm
spending some more time in Slovakia because of my boyfriend
and fitness coach as well, so I'm doing the preparations there.
But when I feel more home, it's impossible to say.
(08:13):
I mean, I love Switzerland, you know, I have the
home there, my parents lived there, so I always love
to return there. And um also Slovakia, I know is
a part of my home, but it has always been,
even though when I was very small and not spending
so much time there. But I enjoy both. Definitely. I'm
very proud of my Slovakian roots, but I would call
(08:35):
myself Swiss. Yeah. Well, this question is more about something
for you much much in the future. But I'm wondering
because we have this series called Business after Sports, and
you still have a long way in your career. But
are there anything that you kind of already thinking of
(08:58):
while you're still playing that you know what I might
find this This can be interesting for me one day
when I retire. Or is it a hundred percent focus
on tennis at the moment um, Yeah, I mean definitely,
you know, sometimes I think about it, although I still
think I really have a lot of years to go,
but I think it's very important, you know, went to
stop and how the transition is, and that you have
(09:20):
a normal life after tennis. And I actually appreciate this
year because it showed me, um that I still enjoy
being at home because um, and I can have a
normal life, you know, besides tennis. So um, this showed
me that I shouldn't have any problems after it. But
definitely after the career, I want to have a family.
That's kind of my first thought, and want to have kids,
(09:43):
and um, yeah, after that, definitely, I want to finish
the or not finish, but make a university degree, like
go to school. And I feel like I'm pretty happy
now I've finished like the part of the school that
I had to and after tennis, you know, like and
I can still do that. I have time to do that.
So um, definitely that. But I don't know which way
(10:06):
um yet. But I think I'm a lot of interested
in a lot of things. But it can change over
the years. I think in the next year's I will
have different interests. And I think it's too early to
maybe say, of course, just the very last question and
more on the short term, what are your goals and
kind of expectations for yourself on and of the court
(10:26):
for this year. Well, um, my goals are definitely, you know,
to to stay healthy and to be able to play. Um.
I think it's very important and it's not easy, you know,
when you're preparing and always practicing for a tournament and
then you play one tournament and then five tournaments are
canceled and then you play another one. So I hope
this year will be different and we will have a schedule,
(10:47):
we will know what we play, we can prepare, and um,
I want to use this to return to top ten.
I've fallen out. I'm falling out now in the twelfth place,
so hopefully I can do that and climb up the rankings. Um,
for sure, it's it's my goal, you know, to be
as high as possible and to focus on the big tournaments,
big tournaments, so um, definitely yeah, I want to do
(11:12):
well in those. Perfect Well, good luck for two one.
I'm sure you will be in the top ten in
no time, and stay safe, healthy, and hopefully we can
see each other very soon, either back in Slovakia, Switzerland
or wherever. I wrote exactly, Yes, thank you and it
was nice talking to things. I hope you have enjoyed
(11:33):
today's episode and getting to know my guests a bit better.
If you feel like it to subscribed to us so
you don't miss any of the action. Also let me
know your comments or suggestions on my social media channels,
and have a lovely rest of your day by
Well, Balinda, thank you so much for time finding the
time for us. And finally, it's so cool to have
you on our show. It's been it's been you. I
mean I wanted to talk to you for quite some time.
So thanks for finding the energy after a long days
of practice these days. Thank you. Thanks so much for
having me. I really appreciate and I look forward to
talking with you. So tell me the last twelve months,
(00:38):
how much has tennis changed for you and what are
some of the biggest challenges that you had to face. Well,
how much tennis changed for me? Um, it changed basically
that I'm practicing a lot, and definitely last year was
to forget. I would say it almost felt like we
never played, even though we played some tournaments in the
(00:59):
start of the year and then somewhere in the end
of the year. But um yeah, I definitely want to
forget that year and continue and hopefully this year we
can play. And I think everyone's got a little bit
used to, like, um, the conditions nowadays and how to
make a tournament in these conditions. So um yeah, I
mean I definitely missed tennis and I definitely want to
(01:24):
kind of play the tournaments and even in these conditions. So,
um yeah, I really appreciate playing now and I appreciate
everyone kind of giving us the chance to do so.
We were just chatting about it quickly before that. There
are so many things you have to worry about these
days mentally that must be taking a lot of energy
out of you. Guys. How do you keep you know,
(01:45):
just motivated and focused, you know, staying on track and
despite you know, you have to fill out so many
papers to start with just to get to the tournaments. Yeah,
it's true. I mean it's definitely much different conditions than
we are used to so it definitely took some time,
um to figure out everything. Traveling is not so easy anymore,
so we have to do all the tests and you
(02:06):
know a lot of tests, that's for sure. Um and
um yeah, it's it's very difficult. Also in the tournament,
you can you cannot move around. You're just in your
hotel room and the tennis courts. So it's really difficult
to stay sane and to stay kind of in your
routine because your routine has changed completely. And um yeah,
(02:27):
definitely it's a lot of focus on tennis now, no
more going out for dinners and uh yeah, having some
nice food and um. But still, you know, I feel
like this is our job and if it's like this
the situation, we have to accept it and we have
to do everything we can just to place. So um yeah,
still it's it's fun to be on the tournament, but
definitely it was better before. Let's talk Paris a little bit.
(02:53):
You have won the junior tournament, um in Paris at
a very young age. How important was that for you
your career at the beginning? Yeah, I mean I have
beautiful memories from there. Um for sure. It's also the
first ever grandson that I played in the juniors. I
lost first round, but I still remember the feeling walking
(03:14):
on the side for the first time. I was overwhelmed,
I was not able to play, and um, definitely this
this gave me so much like experienced and just like
a look how it looks like on the Grand Slam tournament.
So um yeah, for sure, I mean winning this first
Grand Slam I will never forget. You know, I still
have all these memories in front of me, and every
(03:35):
time you know, I come, I come back to Paris, Um,
it feels great. So for sure, you know, I hope
I can have a little bit better results now on clay. Um,
but yeah, trying so hopefully I can do some better
results in the rolling Garrors to now on the on
the pros, I'm sure you will. You still have a
long way in front of you, so I'm sure your
(03:56):
time will come when it's you to um uh Roland
Garros being obviously the most elegant tournament if you can
think of male and female players that represent the style
and elegance for your current or former from the history.
Oh well, I have to say on the male side,
(04:17):
Raphael Nadal, I mean, for sure it's his tournament. I
think it should be. Um, yeah, for sure he's And
on the woman's side, Um, it's difficult. Um, it doesn't
have to be really like she's on lang Land. Yeah,
yeah for sure. I mean with the you know, like
(04:37):
talking about elegant, you know, with the skirts and everything.
Um yeah, they had kind of different outfits than we
have now. But I mean that's what comes to my mind.
So yeah, these two can imagine if we had to
play in those skirts these days, you know, no way,
no I even complain now sometimes that okay I don't
(04:58):
feel comfortable. Yeah, very different. If you have to describe
around Garrols in free words, what would it be? Well, um,
French obviously obviously, but you know, like you come there
(05:18):
and it's it's just French. It feels very French. Um
um yeah, difficult cross worlds. I mean you go to
the caffine. Everyone is eating cross on there, so you
kind of want also and um petite maybe small perfect,
(05:44):
small and nice and different. You've been away from the
(06:04):
game for some injuries for quite some time, then you
had an incredible come back. How much um, you know,
not being able to play tennis has given you the
perspective of the game. Yeah, for sure. I mean that's
the biggest thing that the injuries have taught me. Um.
So I'm definitely in this moment, of course, you're very
frustrated you're having this injury and like why is this
(06:26):
and why that? But after that you you you appreciate
it so much more and it kind of gives you
more more motivation and more kind of yeah perspective to it,
so you appreciate it more and definitely, um yeah, sometimes
your motivation is a little bit low, but then when
you get injured and you cannot play at all, then
you feel very motivated to come back you want to
(06:46):
play again, so this kind of joy and yeah, perspective
kind of lifts you up again for the comeback. So
that's for sure the main thing that I I learned
and I kind of still remember it when I also
this year when I couldn't play, you know, I enjoyed
it so much to be at home as well, you know,
not to travel so much. But still I have the
hunger again for the for the tennis. So that's for
(07:10):
sure something that um, yeah, it's teaching me. Well, talking
about home, this is actually very funny because I'm at
your home. Well I don't know which one you actually
call home, but I mean, and we both come Slovakia.
So where do you actually feel the most home and
what are some of the qualities that actually both countries
(07:30):
brought into your life. Yeah, I mean it's a very
tough question. Of course, I'm born in Switzerland, and I
kind of I have always say I'm being raised there.
I lived there all my life, and but both of
my parents are from Slovakia, so of course I know
the language they taught me, and you know, some of
(07:50):
the kind of traditions and everything, and um, I've visited
Slovakia a lot of times. I have family there, and
now the last three three I've been. Yeah, some I'm
spending some more time in Slovakia because of my boyfriend
and fitness coach as well, so I'm doing the preparations there.
But when I feel more home, it's impossible to say.
(08:13):
I mean, I love Switzerland, you know, I have the
home there, my parents lived there, so I always love
to return there. And um also Slovakia, I know is
a part of my home, but it has always been,
even though when I was very small and not spending
so much time there. But I enjoy both. Definitely. I'm
very proud of my Slovakian roots, but I would call
(08:35):
myself Swiss. Yeah. Well, this question is more about something
for you much much in the future. But I'm wondering
because we have this series called Business after Sports, and
you still have a long way in your career. But
are there anything that you kind of already thinking of
(08:58):
while you're still playing that you know what I might
find this This can be interesting for me one day
when I retire. Or is it a hundred percent focus
on tennis at the moment um, Yeah, I mean definitely,
you know, sometimes I think about it, although I still
think I really have a lot of years to go,
but I think it's very important, you know, went to
stop and how the transition is, and that you have
(09:20):
a normal life after tennis. And I actually appreciate this
year because it showed me, um that I still enjoy
being at home because um, and I can have a
normal life, you know, besides tennis. So um, this showed
me that I shouldn't have any problems after it. But
definitely after the career, I want to have a family.
That's kind of my first thought, and want to have kids,
(09:43):
and um, yeah, after that, definitely, I want to finish
the or not finish, but make a university degree, like
go to school. And I feel like I'm pretty happy
now I've finished like the part of the school that
I had to and after tennis, you know, like and
I can still do that. I have time to do that.
So um, definitely that. But I don't know which way
(10:06):
um yet. But I think I'm a lot of interested
in a lot of things. But it can change over
the years. I think in the next year's I will
have different interests. And I think it's too early to
maybe say, of course, just the very last question and
more on the short term, what are your goals and
kind of expectations for yourself on and of the court
(10:26):
for this year. Well, um, my goals are definitely, you know,
to to stay healthy and to be able to play. Um.
I think it's very important and it's not easy, you know,
when you're preparing and always practicing for a tournament and
then you play one tournament and then five tournaments are
canceled and then you play another one. So I hope
this year will be different and we will have a schedule,
(10:47):
we will know what we play, we can prepare, and um,
I want to use this to return to top ten.
I've fallen out. I'm falling out now in the twelfth place,
so hopefully I can do that and climb up the rankings. Um,
for sure, it's it's my goal, you know, to be
as high as possible and to focus on the big tournaments,
big tournaments, so um, definitely yeah, I want to do
(11:12):
well in those. Perfect Well, good luck for two one.
I'm sure you will be in the top ten in
no time, and stay safe, healthy, and hopefully we can
see each other very soon, either back in Slovakia, Switzerland
or wherever. I wrote exactly, Yes, thank you and it
was nice talking to things. I hope you have enjoyed
(11:33):
today's episode and getting to know my guests a bit better.
If you feel like it to subscribed to us so
you don't miss any of the action. Also let me
know your comments or suggestions on my social media channels,
and have a lovely rest of your day by
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