Kristina Mladenovic about double partner Timea Babos: "She is my medicine on tour"
Without losing a set, "Kiki" Mladenovic and Timea Babos stormed to their third Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. In the podcast of the WTA Insider , the two reveal what makes their relationship so special.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Feb 07, 2020, 12:48 pm
"Kiki" Mladenovic and Timea Babos are currently the measure of all things in doubles. The two celebrated eleven double victories in series, the last of which was in the final of the Australian Open. The duo marched to Melbourne without losing the set, leaving favorites Su-Wie Hsieh and Barbora Strycova in the final with 6: 2 and 6: 1 not a chance. Babos and Mladenovic already triumphed at the WTA finals at the end of the 2019 season.
Reason enough for WTA insiders to ask the new Grand Slam champions for a podcast discussion . The two are particularly proud of the title, because "it is not common to win a title, a Grand Slam, in this way without losing a sentence," Timea Babos said. In the final, the two had all the answers - the Hungarian Babos sees the reason for this in their cohesion: “The way we helped each other and how we support the others through good and bad phases is what makes us very special . "
The Australian Open had started anything but well for the duo. Both had failed in the first round of the individual, especially an extremely bitter pill for Mladenovic: “I came here with high expectations from the previous season. I wanted to maintain the great atmosphere, but then this disappointment comes in detail. Then you are a bit in the corner - it is a tough start to the season. ”
With Timea Babos, “Kiki” has a player at her side who helps her through such difficult phases: “Without her, I wouldn't have the motivation to go back to the court. She is my medicine on the tour. ”Despite the success in doubles, both focus on their individual careers. Mladenovic also sees that they agree on this as a central point: “That makes us special because we stand on the same side and try to get higher and higher in the singles ranking. What we achieve together on the double court is simply very special. ”
Over the years, the two had not only become double partners but also friends. They have been on the court together since 2017, and since then their relationship with each other has changed. "For me it started with our victory at the Australian Open two years ago when something started to change," Babos recalls. And this year's title in Melbourne is anything but ordinary for Mladenovic: “If you achieve that at the end of the two weeks, it's a lifelong memory. I'm happy to have them. "