Belinda Bencic Advances to Wimbledon Quarter-Finals
Belinda Bencic, the Swiss tennis star who clinched Olympic gold in Tokyo, has made a significant milestone in her career by advancing to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time. In a tense match against Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova, who was previously unbeaten in the tournament, Bencic triumphed in straight sets with scores of 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
Match Highlights
Despite being 30 years old and a seeded favorite, Alexandrova had dominated her previous matches, but the unseeded Bencic displayed exceptional composure from the start. She mentioned the incredible atmosphere on court and expressed relief and joy at breaking her opponent to clinch the match.
“It was crazy stress out there but I was so happy to break her in the end. The atmosphere was unbelievable,”
she noted.
Bencic’s Journey
Bencic’s journey to this point has been impressive, especially after becoming a mother just over a year ago. She has been on a winning streak, including a victory at the Abu Dhabi Open in February, which marked just ten months post-childbirth. Her recent performance was particularly noteworthy, given that just two weeks prior, Alexandrova had defeated her soundly at the Bad Homburg Open.
In this latest match, Bencic established an early lead of 4-1, and although Alexandrova fought back to force a tie-break for the first set, Bencic’s persistence saw her through. The second set was equally competitive; after a crucial break at 4-3, Bencic maintained her focus despite Alexandrova’s quick comeback. Ultimately, Bencic’s resilience paid off as she broke Alexandrova’s serve again to secure victory.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Bencic is set to face either Mirra Andreeva or Emma Navarro in the next round, aiming to push further into the tournament, a feat she has been striving for given her historical tendency to exit in the fourth round.
Personal Insights
In addition to her athletic achievements, Bencic shared insights about the joy of traveling with her child, emphasizing how it enhances her experiences as both a competitor and a parent, stating,
“I feel like as a family I am taking more pictures!”
This quarter-final appearance signifies not only a personal victory for Bencic but also a testament to her evolving career since motherhood.
