"She knew me since I was very, very small": Belinda Bencic reveals impact of Martina Hingis on her career

Swiss tennis player Belinda Bencic has opened up about the role of the former world number one Martina Hingis played in her career. The 44-year-old was regarded as one of the best women’s players coming from the country.

Hingis retired from professional tennis back in 2017 after winning as many as five Grand Slam titles. Hingis remained the world number one in women’s tennis in the singles category for over 200 weeks. She has won three Australian Opens, one Wimbledon and one US Open title in her career. She finished twice as the runner-up at the French Open.

On the other hand, Bencic is the highest-ranked women’s player from Switzerland in the singles category in the WTA rankings. The 28-year-old has recently spoken in the Love All With Kim Clijsters, where she spoke about the impact Hingis had on her career.

“Well she [Martina Hingis] was so nice. I think that was really early, I mean she was hitting all the time with kids, and even like as her main practice she ould be just on the net, you know volleying for hours, not missing one volley and playing with 8 year olds and 10 year olds and 12 year old kids, like with everyone,” she said. “So it's inbelievable. I mean apparently it gave her alot, you know, with just trying to hit the ball as good to us, so we don't miss and just keep the rallies going. When she came back also then to play doubles, she was on the tour all the time, and then she was trying to help me. She knew me since I was very, very small, so naturally she came to watch my matches and I think even when I played in Toronto she was at every match, you know the US Open, so I think she was obviously very very happy for me.”