Belinda Bencic (27 years old) will not go further than the round of 16 at the Adelaide tournament, branded WTA 500, played on hard court. The Saint-Galloise, 421st in the world hierarchy, lost this Wednesday against the Russian Liudmila Samsonova (26th) in three sets, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 4-6, at the end of ‘a standoff lasting 2h55.
One week before the Australian Open, Bencic has at least accumulated playing time and competitive sensations. Already appearing strong the day before against Anna Kalinskaya, in a confrontation cut short by the latter’s injury, she again held the shock this Wednesday.
The difference was made at key moments, with the Swiss missing the boat on several occasions. In the first set, she notably redacted a set point at 6-6. In the last, she was broken when she had just taken the advantage at 4-3. Two pivotal moments.
Coming from the qualifications, where she successively dismissed the Japanese Moyuka Uchijima (63rd) and the German Laura Siegemund (79th), both times 6-2, 6-3, Belinda Bencic concedes her fourth defeat in 15 confrontations (United Cup included ) since his return to competition at the end of October
