Talk is cheap—unless Roger Federer is doing the talking in which case experience is invaluable.
Belinda Bencic has translated some of Federer's words into actions knocking off four Top 10 players to win Dubai before Federer collected his 100th career crown in Dubai.
More: Bencic Stuns Osaka
In the aftermath of her 6-3, 6-1, thrashing of world No. 1 Naomi Osaka to charge into the Indian Wells quarterfinals, Bencic credited Swiss mixed doubles partner Federer for advising her and aiding her comeback from left wrist surgery in 2017.
"Yeah, definitely he was always checking up if I was doing better," Bencic told the media in Indian Wells. "Even last year when I got injured in Miami, I ask him, you know, and his physio took a look at me. And actually, you know, he tried to help me with, you know, getting the right people for my injury because, I mean, he's a pro at everything. Definitely he gives me advice.
"So I was really happy he was checking on."
The mentoring Maestro said he's thrilled the former world No. 7 is a making major music on court again.
"Yeah, No. 1, I'm very happy for her, of course," said Federer after defeating Swiss Olympic gold-medal doubles partner Stan Wawrinka. "It's one of those dream runs everyone wants to get on and win a bunch of matches in a row. It's a wonderful feeling for a player. You work so hard for it to string wins together. When it finally happens, it's very rewarding. So that's nice for her."
Bencic, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on March 10th, rides an 11-match winning streak into her Indian Wells' quarterfinal clash vs. Karolina Pliskova.
"She's a great girl," Federer said of Bencic. "I think she's worked extremely hard, and I think it's been difficult for her the last few years, you know, fighting through several injuries, you know, and just getting things right I think in the game but also in her head."
There's a strong connection between the pair.
Melanie Molitor, Martina Hingis' mother and original coach, was Bencic's first coach teaching her to straddle the baseline, take the ball on the rise and drive the two-handed backhand, which is similar to Hall of Famer Hingis' tremendous two-hander.
Federer won his first Hopman Cup championship partnering Hingis in 2001 prompting the Swiss Miss to joke for years she "taught Roger how to win."
Seventeen years later, Federer and Bencic joined forces to claim the 2018 Hopman Cup before successfully defending their championship in January defeating Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber for the second straight year to make history as the first partners to successfully defend the Hopman Cup.
Just as Hingis helped the young Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam king is passing his knowledge forward to the young Bencic.
Federer said he believed Bencic was close to her playing top-level tennis in Perth, but was a bit "too emotional" at times and needed to compete with more clarity. She's done exactly that on this winning tear.
"I feel like she was extremely close, I thought, this year in Perth already, you know, but still a little bit too emotional for my liking," Federer said. "I try to just talk to her a little bit about what I thought she needed to take it to the next level.
"We talked last year in particular a lot about her team, and I just tried to give her sound advice from somebody who's got no need...there is no benefit for me. It's all about her. I think probably she enjoys talking to somebody who really only cares for her well-being."
"I'm happy that she was able to turn things around so quickly right after Australia. I thought it was going to take much more time. I'm very impressed by the steps that she's taken by herself and also with her fitness coach and her dad, that it's all working out. I'm just really happy for them."
Photo credit: Hopman Cup