Belinda Bencic kicked off her debut at the WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo with a routine win after ousting world No. 56 Magda Linette 6-3 6-2.
The Swiss, who is seeded at No. 6, made an early statement after taking the opening three games of the match. Up by a break, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist just held on to her serve for the rest of the set to bag the opener.
Bencic upped her game even more at the start of the second set, claiming back-to-back breaks and going 4-0 up. In the sixth game, the Swiss faced a bit of trouble on her serve but managed to save six break points and go 5-1 up before closing out the match on her serve two games later.
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The Swiss tennis star was clinical with her opportunities as she converted three of five of her break point chances and also saved all of Linette's eight break points. It was the second meeting between the two and the second win for the Swiss.
In the Ningbo round-of-16, Bencic awaits the winner of the match between Yulia Putintseva and Yulia Starodubtseva.
Bencic successfully bounces back from an Iga Swiatek loss
Just four days earlier, Bencic challenged world No. 2 Swiatek and threatened the Pole before the six-time Grand Slam champion registered a 7-6 (2) 6-4 win. In the first set of that match, the Swiss had a chance to serve out for the opener at 5-4 - but blew it. She was also 2-0 up early in the second set before allowing Swiatek to come back and win the set.
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Against Linette, Bencic led from start to finish and didn't have any issues realizing her chances.
