Belinda Bencic (WTA 489) passed the first round of qualifying in Adelaide without any problems. The 2021 Olympic champion gave the Japanese Moyuka Uchijima (WTA 62) no chance, winning 6-2 6-3 in less than 80′ of play.
The St. Galloise, who picked up her 10th success in 13 matches since the birth of her daughter Bella, will play her place in the final table of this WTA 500 on Sunday against the experienced Laura Siegemund (80). She remains on a victory against the 36-year-old German, but this dates back to the 2019 edition of Roland-Garros.
Dominic Stricker (ATP 299) lost 6-4 6-4 in the left-handed duel between him and Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (66) in the first round of qualifying in Auckland. The Bernese thus suffered his third defeat of the season after the two conceded in the United Cup last weekend.
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WTA Auckland: Osaka in the final, a first in 3 years
Naomi Osaka (WTA 57) qualified for the final of the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland by beating American Alycia Parks (78) 6-4 6-2. The former world no. 1 will compete on Sunday against the Dane Clara Tauson (50), her first title since the 2021 Australian Open. After a long break of just over a year during which she gave birth her daughter Shai in July 2023, the four-time Grand Slam winner has been back in competition for a year. She played her first semi-final on the circuit on Saturday since April 2022 and the Miami tournament.
