DUBAI, UAE - Even after four straight three-set thrillers to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Belinda Bencic isn’t done living on the edge, gleefully planning a skydiving trip before she leaves the gulf-side city.
GALLERY: Shining in Dubai - Bencic sets up Kvitova finale
“It's the first thing we will do in the morning,” she said after a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 triumph over Petra Kvitova. “I'm providing a lot of heart attacks on the court. Now I'm going to provide heart attacks off the court.”
As father Ivan and fitness coach Martin Hromkovic chuckled along with the members of the media, Bencic leaned into the microphone to clarify.
“I mean it very seriously.”
The former World No.7 first brought up the bet after outlasting Kvitova for a fourth consecutive Top 10 win, a streak that started with a dramatic win over Dongfeng Motor Wuhan champion Aryna Sabalenka, who held six match points on Wednesday.
“I'm not coming into this tournament thinking about winning at all. It's really seeing who I play first round. You just see the first round, and try to win that.
“After I beat Stefanie Voegele, to be in the third round, the tournament was great for me, solid. To beat Sabalenka was a bonus. I didn't have to beat her. She's Top 10, she had the pressure.”
Bencic continued to live dangerously against former World No.1 Simona Halep, rallying from a set down to defeat the reigning Roland Garros champion in their first meeting since the Swiss youngster won the 2015 Rogers Cup.
Down 3-5 in the semifinals to two-time defending champion Elina Svitolina, she snapped the Ukrainian’s 12-match winning streak to find herself in her first Premier 5 final in nearly four years, all leading up to one last upset over an in-form Kvitova.
“I'm so happy about the consistency that I could back up my wins. After playing a tough match, I could mentally win another one. It's very difficult.”
After struggling with both back and wrists injuries since cracking the Top 10 in 2016, Bencic credits her vastly improved fitness with helping her endure the nearly 11 hours spent on court through six matches.
“This is definitely the fittest I've ever felt. I think it's showing a lot in my game. I definitely need it. I think we did amazing work over there last year. Martin has been my fitness coach for the past year now.
“We did amazing work. It showed.”
Bencic now plans to put body and mind to the test one last time, in arguably her most audacious effort of the week.
We are in the plane anyway all the time, so,” she mused. “My dad is saying, ‘Why risk your life, stuff like that.’ There is no risk, I think. Bunjee jumping is worse!
“Skydiving is on my to-do list. We have to do it anyway in my life. We can do it now.”
A fearless and confident Bencic will surely be one to watch heading into the Sunshine Swing at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open.
