“Roger Federer is following Swiss tennis everywhere, he messaged us yesterday,”: Belinda Bencic
The pairing of Federer and Bencic couldn't take place, but Federer still keeps an eye out for his nation according to Bencic
Swiss world number 12 Belinda Bencic revealed that tennis legend Roger Federer keeps a keen interest in all the tennis events happening of late and even messaged her and her doubles partner Viktorija Golubic after they upset the tournament second seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara.
“I’ll tell my grandchildren about it”
The pair of Federer and Bencic was initially planned to play together in the Mixed Doubles event but Federer withdrew from the Olympics altogether owing to knee problems which had continued on from the Wimbledon tournament
Bencic was quick to put across her dismay at the 20 time Grand Slam champion’s absence but said she was consoled a bit by the fact that the great man broke the news personally to her before anyone else and that she can tell about it to her grandchildren.
Bencic looking to continue Swiss streak of Olympic medals since 2008
Bencic said in yesterday’s press conference after her win against Misaki Doi that Federer held great interest in any events that happen in the world of tennis, from the Futures to the Challengers to the Olympics itself.
“For sure, they’re both following everything. Especially Roger,” said Bencic. “I know he’s following from Futures to Challengers to Olympics to everything… He definitely knows what’s going on and how we play. He messaged us after the doubles yesterday, so I’m sure he’s watching,” said Belinda when asked how much Federer and Wawrinka were following the matches.
Belinda will be looking to add another tennis medal to her country’s account after Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka teamed up in 2008 to bring home the treasured gold medal before Roger himself won the silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, losing to Brit Andy Murray in the final.
Another pair of footsteps she will be looking to emulate is that of Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky, who teamed up at the 2016 Rio Games to grab another silver for their country in the women’s doubles. She faces a tough outing in the Round of 16 however, being pitted against Czech medal hopeful Barbora Brejcikova, currently ranked 11 in the world for singles and 2nd for doubles. She has navigated her way easily through the first 2 rounds, winning both matches in straight sets
Saharsh Narayan
(111 Articles Published)