A success with symbolic value – the Swiss cross gives wings to Bencic and Co. – Sport


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The Swiss surpassed themselves at the BJK Cup. SRF expert Patty Schnyder also praises Captain Heinz Günthardt.

The fact that the Swiss team, after last year’s disappointment, made its prophecy come true and belatedly seized the Billie Jean King Cup after all, was surprising due to the dominance (not a single one of the 8 singles was lost during the whole week) – and at the same time also Not.

The devil is in the details – and in the red dress

Belinda Bencic and Viktorija Golubic showed last year at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with gold in singles and silver in doubles that they can still step up their game under the Swiss cross. Bencic lost to Leylah Fernandez at the French Open this year and to Karolina Pliskova at the US Open – in Scotland she now defeated the Canadian and the Czech in two sets each.

Jil Teichmann has lost 12 of 17 games since the round of 16 in Paris in June, but she won both games at the Billie Jean King Cup, as did Golubic. Before every Swiss performance in Glasgow, Lo & Leduc sang “Tüüfu im rote Chleid” from the speakers – and the song they chose themselves couldn’t have fitted better. As soon as the Swiss women put on their national colors, they simply play devilishly well.

Legend:

An image with symbolic value

Captain Heinz Günthardt and his players Belinda Bencic, Jil Teichmann and Viktorija Golubic listen intently to the national anthem.

Keystone/tennisphoto.de

Schnyder praises the “sensitive” Günthardt

For SRF tennis expert Patty Schnyder it is also clear that Captain Heinz Günthardt played a significant role in the historic success. “He made tactical changes, took a good look at the players and had a lot of conversations. He treated his team sensitively,” praises Schnyder, who lost the final against Spain together with Martina Hingis in 1998 – back then it was still in the Fed Cup, as the competition was called before.

«Günthardt always manages to get the maximum out of his players. He has developed a good mix of listening, giving inputs and building self-confidence. The plan to bring Teichmann back in the final after two victories by Golubic also worked,” adds commentator Manuel Köng. He certifies Günthardt’s high level of credibility, which enables him to justify difficult decisions to the players.

Günthardt himself downplayed his own influence: “There were no wrong options. Who knows if we wouldn’t have won the same way otherwise.” The fact that Teichmann and Golubic were able to present each was certainly of great value for team leader Bencic. After all, it’s easier to play with a 1-0 lead in the back.

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