Olympia 2021: Belinda Bencic - Roger Federer supports from a distance
Belinda Bencic won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Before that, Roger Federer had personally assured her of his support.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Aug 01, 2021, 06:03 pm
These days, Roger Federer has already contacted the Swiss number one by phone, but at the time with bad news: Before the 20-time Grand Slam winner announced his cancellation for the Olympic Games, the maestro contacted Belinda Bencic personally to order to inform them about his plans - and thus also to let the dream of a joint mixed-doubles start burst.
A few days later, on today's Sunday, the Swiss reported under much more positive omen, this time the 39-year-old wanted to say goodbye to the Swiss woman for her upcoming gold medal match: "Roger wrote me a message that morning that today is a good day to make my dreams come true. That made me very happy, " said Bencic to the Schweizer Tagblatt.
Victory for Roger Federer too
She would like to dedicate this triumph to two domestic legends of the sport in particular, Martina Hingis and Roger Federer, as Bencic underscored: "I have also done it for Martina and Roger, they have achieved so much and I will never be able to to achieve that. That's why this victory is also for her, for Martina and Roger. "
Sunday said it was a roller coaster ride of emotions for the Swiss woman who not only fought for the gold medal in singles but also doubles: "I was at the end of my tether. I could no longer think and walk properly. I did I was just hoping to get the ball to the other side. But I had this dream and that's why I played like it was the last match of my life. "
Double burden is not a problem
Even if she had lost, Bencic would have felt like a winner, so much she had invested in this final. "That makes me extremely proud. But I still need time to digest it. These are memories that will last forever," said the twelfth world ranking, for whom winning the gold medal in Tokyo is the greatest career success.
In the meantime, days of enormous double burden have come to an end for Belinda Bencic, as the singles and doubles competitions took place simultaneously: "Giving up was not an option. I knew that only medals count at the Olympic Games, but for me it was and is one Dream that I can be here at all. That gave me energy. Now I'm very happy that it is finished and I made it. "