Belinda Bencic is back! The former world no. 4 is playing her third tournament since returning to tennis from pregnancy, chasing the W125 crown in Angers. The Swiss dominated her opening three matches on an indoor court in France, dropping 11 games in six sets.
Bencic hit the zone right from the opening duel, and the 6th seed, Oceane Dodin, failed to jeopardize her run. Belinda produced a 6-3, 6-1 victory in 58 minutes, overcoming a slower start and rattling off 12 of the final 14 games. The Swiss will face world no. 166 Dominika Salkova in the semi-final.
Belinda Bencic is into the semi-finals in Angers after dropping just 11 games ☺️ pic.twitter.com/sdjajC65VJ
— Simon (@BelleBienne) December 6, 2024
Bencic and Dodin battled for two and a half hours at the beginning of 2022 in Sydney. There was only one player in their most recent match, with the Swiss taking charge on serve and return after suffering an early break. The former world no. 4 dropped eight points in as many service games.
She defended two of three break points and grabbed over half of the return points. The Swiss generated five break points and converted them all, producing another impressive level and hoping for more in the upcoming days.
Belinda Bencic, Angers 2024© Stream screenshot
Bencic tops Dodin in under an hour
Oceane created three break points in the first game of the duel. The home player seized the third after the rival’s loose forehand for a break and an early advantage. Dodin held in the second game to cement the break and make a solid start.
Belinda held at love in the third game and pulled the break back at 1-2 after a loose forehand from her opponent. The Swiss moved 3-2 up with a comfortable hold and made another push on the return in the next one. Bencic cracked a forehand winner and provided the second straight break.
Belinda Bencic© Stream screenshot
The former world no. 4 landed an ace in the seventh game to maintain the advantage and served for the opener at 5-3. The former world no. 4 held at love with an ace, wrapping up the opener 6-3 and gaining a boost.
With nothing working her way, Oceane wasted a game point at the beginning of the second set. The home player suffered a break and fell a set and a break down. Belinda confirmed the break with a hold at love and repeated that at 2-1 with an ace.
Dodin squandered a game point in the fifth game and netted a routine forehand to fall further behind. The Swiss closed the sixth game with a backhand winner and broke at love a few minutes later to seal the deal and move into the last four.
Tennis World USA