Bencic Advances to Australian Open Third Round After Defeating Lamens

MELBOURNE, Australia — Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic secured her spot in the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, defeating Dutch player Suzan Lamens 6-1, 7-6 (3) at Melbourne Park. The victory sets up a potential clash with either No. 20 seed Karolina Muchova or Japanese star Naomi Osaka in the next round.

Bencic, currently ranked No. 294, showcased her resilience in a hard-fought second set after dominating the first. Her performance follows a strong opening-round win against No. 16 seed Jelena Ostapenko, where she triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (6).

Lamens, ranked No. 77, entered the match after defeating Slovak qualifier Veronika Erjavec 7-5, 7-6 (2) in the first round. Despite her efforts, she was unable to overcome Bencic’s precision and experience on the hard court.

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2025 season, features a total prize pool of $60,627,573. The event has drawn top talent from around the world, with Bencic emerging as a formidable contender in the early rounds.

Bencic’s next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between Muchova and Osaka, two highly ranked players known for their aggressive playstyles. The Swiss player will look to continue her momentum as she aims for a deep run in the tournament.