Timea Bacsinszky will have to make do without her lucky charm as she gets set toface Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Miami Open semifinals. All week, reigning WorldCup champion skier Lara Gut has been in her player box. But the 24-year-old Swissskier finally had to leave her Miami vacation behind and fly home.

Gut came to Miami for an escape after some winning of her own. No one in Switzerland knew where she ran off to, except Bacsinszky (who said she was honored).

Advertising

The two superb athletes share a manager and began chatting through Twitter. Gut has brought more to Bacsinszky than just luck—she’s also given the 26-year-old new perspective.

“It’s funny to talk about sport and to exchange what you feel during a race, what do I feel during a match,” Bacsinszky said. “And we have so many things to talk about so it gives many, many new perceptions, new views on sport. It was really, really interesting for me.

“Lucky charm for sure.”

For those who don’t know of Gut, Bacsinszky has been quick to point out she just beat a more familiar name, Lindsey Vonn.

“Here you only know Lindsey Vonn,” Bacsinszky said. “You should know more actually, if I’m being honest.”

Keep being honest Timea, it’s refreshing.