Wimbledon: 2 match points saved! Iga Swiatek bends Belinda Bencic
World number 1 Iga Swiatek was on the verge of being eliminated against Belinda Bencic, but showed fighting qualities and is in the quarter-finals. Also further: Elina Svitolina - after a crime against Victoria Azarenka.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jul 09, 2023, 10:30 pm
Belinda Bencic almost managed the big surprise on Sunday in Wimbledon: The Swiss had two match balls against the top seeded Iga Swiatek - but defended them with flying colors. And prevailed in the end.
Swiatek was actually the slightly better player throughout the first set, but was unable to use five break points - two of which were set points. In the tiebreak, Bencic suddenly turned up the heat and won it 7:4.
In round two it was the favorite who managed a quick break. But Bencic equalized to make it 3:3. In the twelfth game, Bencic had two match points as a receiver, Swiatek saved himself in the tie-break. This started with five mini-breaks, and sides were changed at 4:2 for Swiatek. And the four-time major winner shouldn't drop a point anymore. In the third set, the Pole managed an early break, which she transported.
Svitolina beats Azarenka
Swiatek now meets Elina Svitolina, who had a similarly dramatic match against Victoria Azarenka. In the end, the Ukrainian prevailed 2: 6, 6: 4 and 7: 6 (9).
Azarenka had already led 7:4 in the match tie-break, but Svitolina caught up and used her second match point. Shortly after her return from maternity leave, she is in the quarterfinals of a major tournament - strong!
Jessica Pegula had already secured places in the last eight with an unchallenged win over Lesia Tsurenko and Marketa Vondrousova with a three-set win over Marie Bouzkova.
Here is the women's individual tableau
wimmap