PHOTOS: Belinda Bencic, "on fire" Flavio Cobolli win Indian Wells Mixed Doubles Invitational and mini Baccarat trophy

Maybe now Flavio Cobolli can win over Belinda Bencic’s daughter Bella after helping her mom win the BNP Paribas Open Mixed Doubles Invitational.

“She's always nice to me. Not like her daughter,” the Italian said with a smile Saturday after they beat Gabriela Dabrowski and Lloyd Glasspool.

“I think he's winning over her heart very slowly. She's very skeptical, and I tell her not to talk to strange men,” laughed Bencic. “Then I think in two days she will love him, because he's so good with kids.”

Having previously been paired together for Team Europe at December’s World Tennis Continental Cup exhibition in Shenzhen, Bencic asked Cobolli about joining forces again in Indian Wells. The duo won their first three matches in straight sets, before topping Dabrowski and Glasspool, 6-3, 2-6 [10-7] on a sizzling afternoon inside Stadium 3 to lift a mini version of the event's crystal trophy.

Afterwards, the two couldn’t have been more complimentary about what the other brought to the partnership.

“I can learn a lot of things from Flavio. It was really nice that he was warming up with me every day. I can see what he can do on the court,” said Bencic. “Just so talented. So I really hope he can become Top 10 very soon.

“This tournament, I thought he was absolutely on fire. He was just doing everything.”

Commented Cobolli, “I saw what she does outside the court. She's another person. She's really kind. She's also a mom. So when you see her on court, is completely different. She change the attitude, she change her face and the eyes are more on focus.

“So I miss that part on my game. Sometimes I cannot stay focused for a long time, but with her, it's another thing. I think I stayed focused for all the four matches.”

As for what’s next in their mixed doubles journey, Cobolli made quite the declaration.

“Now she have a lot of requests. So I'm ready to stay with her (until) the end of her career.”

The Swiss was slightly taken aback.

“Wow,” she responded.

“We are focused on singles most of the time, but now I think the mixed competitions are done very nicely. Sometimes US Open, like, pre-tournaments. I think there is one in Rome now, so tournaments are really picking up on it and making it an interesting event, which I love. Yeah, I would love to play. Why not?”

If a reunion happens at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, here's to Flavio having Bella as a converted super fan in his corner.