Belinda Bencic is a 17-year-old Swiss tennis prodigy who is set to become one of the stars of 2014.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
Belinda Bencic is a 17-year-old Swiss tennis prodigy who is set to become one of the stars of 2014.
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Born in Switzerland to parents who emigrated from the former-Czechoslovakia in 1968, Bencic began playing tennis as soon as she could walk.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
Born in Switzerland to parents who emigrated from the former-Czechoslovakia in 1968, Bencic began playing tennis as soon as she could walk.
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As a child Bencic idolized Swiss tennis stars Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Martina Hingis (left), and still has posters of them on her wall.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
As a child Bencic idolized Swiss tennis stars Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Martina Hingis (left), and still has posters of them on her wall.
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Aged four, she enrolled in a tennis school run by Hingis' mother Melanie Molitor, who she still works with.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
Aged four, she enrolled in a tennis school run by Hingis' mother Melanie Molitor, who she still works with.
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In July 2013, Bencic beat America's Taylor Townsend to take the Wimbledon girls' championship, having already won the French Open in Paris the previous month.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
In July 2013, Bencic beat America's Taylor Townsend to take the Wimbledon girls' championship, having already won the French Open in Paris the previous month.
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Bencic ended 2013 as the No. 1 junior and was crowned the female 2013 ITF Junior World Champion.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
Bencic ended 2013 as the No. 1 junior and was crowned the female 2013 ITF Junior World Champion.
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Aged 16, Bencic was reported by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fmiguelmorales%2F2014%2F03%2F05%2F16-year-old-tennis-pro-belinda-bencic-has-11-sponsors-but-shes-no-millionaire%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Forbes</a> to have 11 sponsors.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
Aged 16, Bencic was reported by Forbes to have 11 sponsors.
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She is now coached by her father Ivan, and trains for half the year at former world No. 1 Chris Evert's tennis academy in Florida.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
She is now coached by her father Ivan, and trains for half the year at former world No. 1 Chris Evert's tennis academy in Florida.
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In January 2014, Bencic fought an exhibition match against Hingis, billed as "the Master versus the Apprentice" -- but lost out to her childhood idol.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
In January 2014, Bencic fought an exhibition match against Hingis, billed as "the Master versus the Apprentice" -- but lost out to her childhood idol.
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At the Australian Open, Bencic made her first adult grand slam appearance, beating veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm before falling to eventual winner Li Na in round two.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
At the Australian Open, Bencic made her first adult grand slam appearance, beating veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm before falling to eventual winner Li Na in round two.
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In April's Family Circle Cup, Bencic fought through two qualifying rounds and four competition rounds -- knocking out Maria Kirilenko, Marina Erakovic, Elina Svitolina, and Sara Errani -- to become the first qualifier to reach the tournament's semifinals.
Hingis' heir: The new 'Swiss Miss?' —
In April's Family Circle Cup, Bencic fought through two qualifying rounds and four competition rounds -- knocking out Maria Kirilenko, Marina Erakovic, Elina Svitolina, and Sara Errani -- to become the first qualifier to reach the tournament's semifinals.
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