2023 Abu Dhabi champion Belinda Bencic has made a successful begin on the WTA 500 match within the United Arab Emirates after overcoming world No. 44 Rebecca Sramkova 6-2 3-6 6-1.
The Swiss, who’s presently ranked at No. 157 on the planet and obtained a wildcard for the match, continues her tremendous type since launching her post-pregnancy comeback as this has been her eighth win of 2025.
Whereas Bencic struggled a bit at occasions in opposition to the Slovak and did not have essentially the most constant of performances, she got here up large when it mattered essentially the most and received the final 5 video games of the decider to finish her three-set win.
Belinda Bencic© X screenshot
In her subsequent Abu Dhabi match, the previous world No. 4 will play in opposition to fortunate loser Veronika Kudermetova, who upset fifth-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in her opener.
Going into their conflict, one factor is for positive – they know one another fairly properly – having performed in opposition to one another 9 occasions, with the Swiss successful 5 of these 9 conferences.
How Bencic overcame Sramkova?
Early within the first set, the Swiss wildcard earned breaks within the fifth and seventh video games for a 5-2 lead earlier than saving three consecutive break factors within the eighth recreation and shutting out the opener.
Down by a set, the world No. 44 responded by claiming her first break at the beginning of the second set and opening a 2-0 lead.
Whereas Bencic managed to get the break again immediately within the third recreation, she misplaced her serve once more within the sixth recreation.
This time, Sramkova managed to carry to her serve and finally pressure a 3rd set.
Via the primary two video games of the decider, the 2 gamers had been tied to 1 recreation apiece.
Then, the previous world No. 4 stepped up – registered back-to-back breaks – and received 5 video games in a row to seal her win in a really spectacular manner.
