GLASGOW, Scotland –
Belinda Bencic retains delivering massive titles for Switzerland.
The Olympic singles champion made positive Switzerland gained the largest prize in ladies’s staff tennis for the primary time on Sunday, finishing a near-perfect match by beating Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in straight units within the Billie Jean King Cup last.
The win gave Switzerland an unassailable 2-0 lead after Jil Teichmann outlasted Australia’s Storm Sanders 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 within the opening singles match.
Bencic had not dropped a set all week and prolonged that streak by beating Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-1 to clinch the title. The 25-year-old Bencic has solely made it previous the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam match as soon as — reaching the semifinals of the 2019 U.S. Open — however appears to at all times elevate her stage when enjoying for Switzerland.
She gained the singles gold on the Tokyo Olympics and in addition added a silver medal within the doubles.
On Sunday, she produced a near-flawless efficiency even after spending greater than two hours cheering on Teichmann within the early match.
“I gave so much energy in Jil’s match, ’cause I was trying to push her so much,” Bencic stated. “Storm was playing incredible, she was throwing everything at Jil. And she stayed so strong, every point she didn’t go away. And she, like, refused to lose and fought with everything she had, and I was so proud and so inspired in a way. And I kind of tried to do the same thing. I don’t think we got it yet, that we’re the first ones (from Switzerland) to win.”
The Swiss had by no means gained the competitors previously generally known as the Fed Cup, shedding the ultimate in 1998 and once more final yr. Australia gained it seven instances, however the final was in 1974. The Australians have reached 10 finals since then, however misplaced all of them.
“We didn’t win this just today, it was this week, and it was actually over years,” Switzerland staff captain Heinz Guenthardt stated. “Who knows why you win something and you lose something. A lot of it has to do with heart. And this team has a lot of heart, I tell you.”
Bencic stated final yr’s loss within the last served as additional motivation this time round.
“We were finalists last year and we were so heartbroken,” Bencic stated. “I don’t suppose I’ve cried a lot. But within the locker room (Teichmann) got here to me and stated, ‘Next year we’re going to do it.’ And we did.”
Switzerland beat Canada on Friday to safe a playoff berth. Canada will host Belgium in a qualifier for the 2023 match in mid-April.