By Chris Oddo | Thursday June 9, 2016
Belinda Bencic moved into the quarterfinals of the Ricoh Open in 's-Hertogenbosch with another hard-fought victory on Thursday.
Photo Source: LTA
Though not in mid-season form, Belinda Bencic’s return from a two-month injury hiatus has yielded two consecutive victories and a quarterfinal appearance at the Ricoh Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Despite the rust, the Swiss is simply happy to be on her beloved grass and getting some matches under her belt.
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The 19-year-old came back from an early deficit to edge past Varvara Lepchenko on Thursday, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Bencic converted on four of 16 break points, and did not face a break point in the decider to win her first career meeting with the American world No. 65.
"My level is still not there where I want it to be," Bencic said after the match. "I don't think it was a really good match from my side. But all I could do myself was just to fight and keep going. That's what I'm trying every day so I'm just hoping to improve."
Bencic, who had not played since early April in Charleston due to a back injury, will next meet her compatriot and doubles partner this week, Viktorija Golubic. The 23-year-old Swiss, who won her first career Grand Slam match two weeks ago at Roland Garros, eased past Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki, 6-4, 6-2.
It wasn’t an easy day for seeds on the grass. Top-seeded Bencic was the only seed to make it through in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on Thursday. The upset bug bit No.2-seeded Jelena Jankovic and No.4-seeded Jelena Ostapenko, as both were knocked out by players outside of the Top 100.
Jankovic fell to Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina, 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-4, while Ostapenko dropped a 7-5, 6-2 decision to Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova.