Elena Rybakina made sure she wouldn't go without a win at the inaugural World Tennis Continental Cup after beating Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4 on Sunday.
Two days ago, the Kazakh didn't play well and was ousted 3-6 3-6 by Iga Swiatek in Shenzhen.
Today, Rybakina bounced back with a much better performance and overcame Bencic, who defeated Wang Xinyu in her opening match.
Against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Bencic, the 2022 Wimbledon champion fired 11 aces and converted two of her five break point chances. Also, the fifth-ranked Kazakh saved all four break points she faced.
This was the first exhibition match between the Kazakh and the Swiss. On the WTA Tour, they clashed three times, with the Swiss Olympic championwinning two of those three meetings.
Rybakina still has one more match to play at the World Tennis Continental Cup
Later today, the Kazakh tennis star will return to the court for a mixed doubles match. There, she will team up with Andrey Rublev, and they will take on six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek and reigning Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot.
After the mixed doubles matchfinishes, that will also mark the end of the inaugural World Tennis Continental Cup - a Laver Cup-style mixed team event taking place in Shenzhen this weekend.
It remains to be seen if Rybakina can also win her upcoming mixed doubles champion and make it two out of two today.
