Sebastian Rieder from Tokyo
Apparently inspired by the Olympic atmosphere, Belinda Bencic (24) has been flying from lap to lap since her arrival in Japan over a week ago – in singles and doubles. At the side of Viktorija Golubic (28) she enjoys the magical hours in the Ariaka Tennis Park in the harbor basin of Tokyo. “It’s an incredible trip we’re on,” said Bencic after the 6: 4, 6: 4 against Perez / Stosur from Australia.
She meets the double burden with a lightness that puts her athletic career in a new light. In singles and doubles, she has two chances of winning precious metal for the first time in her life. “I feel a lot of energy here. It tingles me every day, ”says Bencic and raves about the Olympic Village, where all the athletes give the Swiss team spirit its very own dynamic in their own way.
Bencic has been traveling the world on the WTA tour for eight years.
She has already seen two dozen major tournaments since she was a junior, but something like the Olympics triggers completely new feelings in the woman from Flawil. “In terms of dimensions, you can perhaps compare it with the Grand Slams, but in terms of sporting spirit, the enjoyment is significantly greater than the pressure,” says Bencic – euphoric by the 6-0, 3: 6, 6: 3 in the quarter-finals against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Before the greatest success of your career
The duel against the Russian brings back memories of the last great triumph more than two years ago – in the final in Moscow of all places. She has only won four tournaments at this level, and has so far failed to prove her talent in Grand Slams. That could change suddenly with the advance to the Olympic final. Although she has prepared very well for Tokyo, everything here comes very unexpectedly, as she says.
The Mission Medal seems to have a magnetic effect on the creativity of the Eastern Swiss woman. But she doesn’t want to scream the greatest success of her career the day before the two semi-finals. “I consciously don’t worry about the medals,” says world number 12 despite being a favorite against Kazakh Jelena Rybakina (WTA 20), who is two years younger. “It’s better for me if I keep the focus. There is still a long way to go. “
Summer Olympics in Tokyo
The 32nd Summer Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. All information about the opening, broadcast, competition dates, disciplines, innovations, venues and mascots can be found in the large overview.
The 32nd Summer Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. All information about the opening, broadcast, competition dates, disciplines, innovations, venues and mascots can be found in the large overview.
Everything about the Olympics