Bencic Dominates Linette in WTA Ningbo Match

Ningbo, China — Belinda Bencic defeated Magda Linette in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament at the Ningbo Open on October 13, 2025. Bencic won convincingly with a score of 6-3, 6-2.

The match began with Bencic taking an early lead, breaking Linette’s serve in the first game. Despite Linette’s attempts to push back, Bencic’s powerful returns and precise shots proved too much, as she quickly established a 5-1 advantage in the first set.

In their only previous encounter at Wimbledon in 2023, Bencic had also emerged victorious, winning in straight sets. This time, the Swiss player continued to showcase her strong form, having recently reached the Round of 16 in Wuhan.

Linette, who is experiencing a tough season, had lost her last five matches prior to this tournament, including an early exit in Wuhan where she lost to lower-ranked player Antonia Ruzic. She entered the match with the hopes of turning her luck around but struggled against Bencic’s consistent performance.

After winning the first set, Bencic maintained her momentum into the second set, breaking Linette once again and taking a commanding lead. Despite Linette’s effort to keep pace, Bencic secured her place in the second round without dropping a serve in the second set.

This loss leaves Linette at a challenging crossroads in her season, where she will need to regroup and seek victories in upcoming tournaments to improve her ranking and confidence.

Bencic now moves on in the tournament, continuing her bid for further titles as one of the top players recognized on the tour.