Belinda Bencic continues her journey at the Australian Open. Wednesday afternoon (it was still dark in Switzerland), the Saint-Galloise qualified quite easily for the third round by beating the Dutch Suzan Lamens (25 years old, 77th in the world) in two contrasting sets. The first was quick (6-1, 24 minutes of play), with four breaks for Bencic on his return games and a baseline duel largely to his advantage.
The second was three times longer (76 minutes) and more balanced, because Bencic appeared more uneven. She was broken while serving for the victory at 5-3, then missed two match points at 6-5 (the first from a backhand return in the lane, the second from a forehand too uncrossed on the way out). of a long exchange). Forced into a tie-break, she broke away easily, had three new match points at 6-1 and concluded with 7 points at 3.
Back in the top 200
The last Swiss presence in Melbourne, Belinda Bencic confirms that her return to the courts is going remarkably well for the moment. Victorious for the 14th time in 18 matches since the end of her maternity leave at the end of October, she is already assured of returning to the world top 200, while she had fallen beyond 100th place after a year without playing. However, her ranking is symbolic for the moment because she still benefits from a protected ranking which allows her, for a time, to enter directly into major tournaments.
In the third round, Belinda Bencic will have an interesting test against the Japanese Naomi Osaka, former world number one, former double winner in Melbourne (2019 and 2021). Back on the circuit for a year after depression and then maternity, Naomi Osaka is today still looking for a second wind and is stagnating around 50th place in the world. Her first two rounds, with victories in three sets over the Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia then the Czech Karolína Muchová (seeded n°20) on Wednesday, indicate that she is still capable of the best.
