Wimbledon 2023
Belinda Bencic stronger than pain
The Saint-Galloise will be there for the knockout stages of Wimbledon despite a shoulder injury. She swept Magda Linette (6-3, 6-1).
by
Mathieu Aeschmann(London)
PublishedJuly 7, 2023, 8:02 p.m.
Belinda Bencic will be in the round of 16 at the 2023 Wimbledon tennis tournament.
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Belinda Bencic is definitely an extraordinary competitor. Arriving in London with a tiny match in her legs in three months, the Saint-Galloise (14th player in the world) will play again on Sunday an 8th final of Wimbledon (after 2015 and 2018). She overcame pain in her shoulder and right biceps to stifle Magda Linette (24th) in two short sets (6-3, 6-1).
How injured is Belinda Bencic? Just before attacking the eighth Wimbledon of her career, the Olympic champion wanted to reassure her world. “The leg is ancient history. And thanks to the work of my physio, I now train without shoulder discomfort. If it was a bluff, it was fair game. Otherwise, the situation got nastily worse in four days.
Swiatek in perspective
Because despite a substantial strapping, “Beli” seemed to suffer on almost each of her services, Friday on court No. 14. The Saint-Galloise thus crossed the first set to save break points (5) as she grimaced and seemed vulnerable behind his engagement (38% of points won on his second ball).
Luckily for Belinda Bencic, the rest of her game didn’t seem tainted by pain. And his superiority in the exchange allowed him to keep his break ahead and then fly away in a one-sided second set. So here is the Olympic champion back where she feels best: fighting against the best and on a big court. If the logic is respected, it will be against Iga Swiatek, the world No 1. A mission for which it would be better to be able to count on a shoulder and an operational service.
