Belinda Bencic started the season achieving a feat that eluded her mentor Martina Hingis: She partnered Roger Federer to successfully defend Switzerland's Hopman Cup championship.

The 45th-ranked Bencic, who is bidding to become the first woman to win Dubai since Hingis in 2001, has toppled three Top 10 players en route to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final this week.

More: Bencic Dethrones Dubai Champion Svitolina

These days, Bencic, who fought back from 3-5 down in the decider to dethrone two-time champion Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (3), doesn't measure success solely in winning and losing.

A fighting spirit is Bencic's greatest source of pride.

"I think I'm always the most proud of how I fight," Bencic told the media in Dubai. "Even when I lose, I learned myself to just look in the mirror and be proud of myself when I'm fighting, when I'm giving my all, when I'm trying to do what I have to do. I think I'll always be proud of that. I think that will be my number one goal always."

Regardless of the outcome of the Dubai final, Bencic will return to the Top 30 for the first time since late 2016 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday.

Photo credit: Hopman Cup