Bencic and Vekic Meet in Tough Wuhan Open First Round

WUHAN, China — The 13th seed, Belinda Bencic, is set to face wild card Donna Vekic in the opening round of the Wuhan Open on Tuesday. This matchup promises to be a solid battle between two talented players.

Bencic, the Swiss tennis player, has had an inconsistent season so far. She celebrated a title win in Abu Dhabi with a comeback against Ashlyn Krueger, but has seen several early exits in other tournaments. Her highlights include a career-best semifinals at Wimbledon, where she lost in straight sets to Iga Swiatek, and a quarterfinal showing at Indian Wells. Despite an arm injury leading to her retirement in Rome and a withdrawal from Roland Garros, Bencic remains focused on her performance. She has played 43 matches this season, hitting 66 aces while winning 65.4% of her first-serve points and converting 46.6% of her break points.

On the other hand, Vekic has experienced a modest campaign, currently ranking No. 71 after previously being at No. 17. She reached the fourth round in Melbourne and the third rounds in Indian Wells and Madrid but has struggled in other tournaments, largely due to injuries and coaching changes that affected her rhythm. In 33 matches this year, she has fired 110 aces, with a 66.8% success rate on first serves and converting 49.3% of break points.

Historically, Bencic has the upper hand in their head-to-head matchups, leading 4-1 against Vekic. The Croatian’s only victory came during the 2019 French Open, with Bencic claiming the other four encounters, including their latest match in Tallinn in 2022.

While Bencic’s current form and past victories grant her an edge, Vekic’s resilience and determination could pose a serious challenge. Analysts suggest that Bencic is favored to win in straight sets due to her advantageous track record.

As the opening round unfolds, the expectation will be high for both athletes, with Bencic aiming to leverage her experience and skill against Vekic’s fighting spirit.