By Erik Gudris | Monday, January 16, 2017
Serena Williams earned a straight sets win over Belinda Bencic in an anticipated opening round at the Australian Open.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
When the Australian Open women’s draw was announced, many looked forward to seeing six-time champion Serena Williams face off against unseeded Belinda Bencic in the first round. Even the 19-year-old Bencic herself said she looked forward to the oppportunity.
Australian Open: Federer Enjoys Winning Return in Opening Match
The second seeded Williams herself proved that she too was ready for the first round encounter with the former top 10 Swiss teenager as she advanced with a straight sets win into the second round.
“She’s such a great player, it was probably one of the toughest first round matches I’ve ever played,” Williams said right after the match in an on-court interview.
While the match was anticipated, both players entered with question marks on how they might perform. Williams, last year's finalist, entered having suffered a recent error-filled loss in Auckland in her first tournament back since the US Open. Bencic, who fell out of the top 10 due to an injury-filled 2016 season, arrived not having played that many matches herself.
Both players showed some signs of rust while also producing early winners. Williams enjoyed an early lead for 3-1 after outlasting Bencic in an extended rally. But Bencic took advantage of errors from Williams and soon leveled at 3-all. While Bencic showed flashes of the complete baseline game that took her inside the top 10, the match ultimately proved to be on Williams’s racquet.
Williams made her move late in the set after crunching several winning returns off of short Bencic serves. Williams took the set 6-4.
From there, Williams asserted control in the second set.
Bencic didn’t help her cause in the second game by tossing in two double faults in her service game along with several groundstroke errors. Williams broke Bencic and then held serve with ease in the next game for 3-0.
Williams again with stong returning broke Bencic again. Soon, Williams held a 5-0 lead and looked ready to end the match within the hour mark.
Bencic didn’t give up though as she managed to finally hold serve to get on the scoreboard. Bencic broke Williams, who served for the match, thanks to a strong forehand winner from the teenager.
Williams once again had a chance to serve out the match while up 5-3. The final game proved a real test for Williams as she struck a double fault on her first match point. Williams won an extended baseline rally to give herself a second match point. This time she converted on it when Bencic failed to pass her up at net.
Williams’ 6-4, 6-3 victory was significant also because it was her 75th match win at the Australian Open.
Williams hit an even 30 winners and 30 unforced errors in the match to just 13 winners and 16 unforced errors from Bencic.
Williams will next face another former top 10 player in Lucie Safarova in the second round. Safarova saved nine match points before beating Yanina Wickmayer 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-1.