10 Things you need to know about Belinda Bencic – The new “Swiss Miss” in town

Belinda Bencic at the 2014 US Open

The first week of the final slam of the year has seen a fair share of upsets. The women’s draw as has been the case for the past few years has been the major suspect in this regard. The likes of Ana Ivanovic, Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova all have been shown the door by relatively unknown names.

One of the players who had her moment under the sun is Belinda Bencic from Switzerland. The youngster produced a stunning display of tennis to beat sixth seed Angelique Kerber 6-1, 7-5 in the third round.

Here are 10 things that you need to know about this rising star of women’s tennis:?

1. Multiple citizenship

She was born in Flawil, a small town in north-east Switzerland. Her father Ivan comes from Bratislava while her mother is from Mocenok in Slovakia. Apart from her Swiss nationality, she also holds a Slovak citizenship.

2. Coached by Martina Hingis’ mother

Bencic starting playing tennis at the age of 4 and joined the tennis school run by Martina Hingis’ mother Melanie Molitor. Today she is coached by both her father as well as Molitor.

3. Tremendous success on the junior tour

The youngster had an incredible start to her career by winning the French Open and Wimbledon girl’s singles title in 2013. Along with that, she has also been a finalist in girl’s doubles tournaments at the 2012 Wimbledon and the US Open in 2012 and 2013. This helped her reach the top junior world ranking in the year 2013.

4. Multiple titles on the ITF circuit

In her career so far, Bencic has won 2 ITF singles titles and 2 doubles titles. She won both her singles titles and a doubles title in the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Her other ITF doubles title came at a tournament at home in Lenzerheide.

5. Year 2014: Breaching the top 100 barrier

2014 has been a landmark year for the Swiss player. Starting from a ranking of 212 at the beginning of the year, she has reached a career high ranking of 59 with her best performance being a semifinal in Charleston.

Bencic with the 2013 Wimbledon Junior girl’s title

6. Youngest player in the top 100

Following in the footsteps of her more renowned compatriot Martina Hingis, Bencic too has achieved a lot of success at an early age. At the age of 17, she is the youngest player at present in the top 100 of the world. She reached the third round at Wimbledon beating higher ranked players. A fourth round appearance and more at the US Open is bound to alleviate her ranking further.

7. Match-up against the oldest player on tour at Melbourne Park

When Bencic faced Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm in the first round of the Australian Open this year, the age difference between the two was a staggering 26 years. The youngster managed to overhaul the veteran in 3 sets to win her first grand slam match.

8. Fed cup debut in February

The teenager made her debut for the Fed Cup against France in February and won both her singles matches. Unfortunately, she lost out in the fifth doubles rubber. Though she did help Switzerland beat Brazil 4-1 in April.

9. A tactician rather than a ball-striker

In an interview last year about her playing style Bencic said

“From when I was small, I knew that I would not hit the ball so hard, but I learnt how to play smart, and when you combine a good serve and powerful shots with smart shots, I think it’s good.”

10. Favorite players to watch Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka

With the Swiss native that she is, it is no doubt that her favorite players are Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.

Well we can only hope that she can replicate what these Swiss players have achieved and wish the new “Swiss Miss” all the best for the future.