Belinda Bencic admitted that just standing on the court against Serena Williams was “really overwhelming.”
On Wednesday, Bencic handed a 6-2 6-4 loss to Williams in the second round at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
Just a day earlier, Williams announced her plans to retire at this year’s US Open.
Bencic broke Williams twice in the first set and once in the second set to clinch a two-set victory and end the American’s final campaign in Canada.
“Of course it’s super nice, but today it’s a little bit more sad in a way. I don’t really want her to retire. I feel like I’ve always, in a way you know what she’s achieved and everything, all her legacy and career and everything. But now that it’s soon to be over I feel like people, and me included, are realizing it even more. Just standing on the court against her today was just, yeah, really overwhelming, I would say,” Bencic said, per the WTA website.
Bencic: Playing Williams will not be easy at all at the US Open
The Toronto crowd stood behind Williams but Bencic was able to keep her focus and escape with a win.
Williams will also play at a WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati before she heads to New York for the US Open.
Bencic says playing Williams at the US Open definitely won’t be easy since Williams’ opponent since the whole stadium will stand behind the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“In a way with her it feels almost like I’m star struck every time I see her,” Bencic said. “So it’s difficult to play her. It’s difficult to kind of put that aside and just like focus on the match. Because I feel like I just don’t know how I then play because I feel like I’m paralyzed a little bit just like watching her. The crowd was incredible tonight. Just being part of that whole thing, it’s just really very special for me as well and for her. And I think US Open it’s going to be even more special. So good luck to everyone who has to play her.”