This is the fittest I've felt, says Bencic

Belinda Bencic's victory in Dubai proved she can be a contender at the Grand Slams.

In 2016, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic broke into the top 10 of women's tennis at just 18.
Hailed as the next big thing, Bencic seemed destined to join Martina Hingis, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka in the pantheon of Grand Slam-winning greats from Switzerland only to suffer serious wrist injuries.
But now the talented Swiss is slowly getting her career back on track. And Saturday's DDF Tennis Championships win proved that Bencic, who first started playing at the age of three in a tennis school run by Hingis's mother Melaine Molitor, could be a contender at the Grand Slams.
"It's unbelievable. It's incredible. I mean, I still cannot believe it," said Bencic after her win over second seed Petra Kvitova in the final. "I won against (Aryna) Sabalenka after being out already. So many times I was close to defeat. It's unbelievable that I ended up winning this," she said, referring to her third round game against eighth seed Sabalenka in which she saved six match points.
Bencic, who beat four top 10 players in Dubai, said she could not have won the tournament without the amazing work of her fitness coach.
"This is definitely the fittest I've ever felt. I think it's showing a lot in my game," she said.
"I definitely need it. I think we did amazing work. Martin has been my fitness coach for the past year now. We did amazing work. It showed."
Remarkably, Saturday's 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win was also Bencic's first in four attempts against Kvitova.
The Swiss went into the Dubai final having never taken a set off the two-time Grand Slam champion.
"I have huge respect for Petra because she's an amazing player. She's such a champion. I really didn't believe all the match that I can beat her," the 21-year-old Bencic said.
"Really, that was my mentality. I was just trying to get from point to point, getting closer. And when I won, it was just incredible.
"Of course, even to win a set against her would have been amazing!"
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com