Bencic Stages Comeback to Defeat Gracheva at Tokyo Open

Tokyo, Japan — Belinda Bencic, the fifth seed, came from behind after trailing 4-2 in the first set to defeat qualifier Varvara Gracheva during the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Thursday.

This victory marks Bencic’s fifth quarterfinal appearance in 2025, further demonstrating her impressive season. Gracheva started strong but could not maintain her lead against Bencic, who displayed great experience and composure throughout the match.

“I just focused on my game and tried to stay calm,” Bencic said after the match. “Every point counts, and I knew I had to keep fighting.”

Bencic, currently ranked No. 13 in the world, will carry this momentum into the quarterfinals, where she hopes to continue her run in the prestigious Tokyo tournament. Her overall record for the year now stands at 34 wins and 17 losses.

In another match, top-seed Elena Rybakina defeated Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals as well. Rybakina, who is ranked No. 7, will next face Canada’s Victoria Mboko, the No. 9 seed.

The Tokyo Open, part of the WTA 500 series, is being held at the Ariake Coliseum and offers a total prize pool of $1.064 million. The tournament remains one of the highlights for women’s tennis this year.