In one of the early matches in Palo Alto, Catherine “CiCi” Bellis took on Japanese qualifier Misaki Doi in the first round of the Bank of the West Classic. Bellis hails from Northern California so the Atherton native was given a wildcard into the event.
Both women are outside the top 100 so a decent showing would’ve done wonders for their rankings, especially for Bellis since she’s only allowed to play in select tournaments due to her age. Doi would spoil the teen’s homecoming with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over the American.
Crucial fourth game dooms Bellis for the rest of the set
In the opening game of the match, Bellis had a chance to go up a quick break. She went up 15-40 but was unable to convert. Doi on her second opportunity. They would hold until that vital fourth game.
The fourth game of the first set, with Bellis serving, was the longest of that match. 14 points in all as the Japanese woman captured the break. The teenager saved four break points and only had one opportunity to level the score at two-all as Doi captured the break on her fifth opportunity.
The Japanese number two nearly squandered the break right back as she was forced to deuce in the following service game, but she held to consolidate. She would hold at 15 in both of her service games following the consolidation to give her the one set lead.
Bellis battles back but Doi captures the match
The teenager was hoping to put that first set disappointment behind her to try and force a decider. It didn’t go as planned to start when Doi broke her in the opening game of the second set on her fourth attempt. It was pretty much straightforward for both woman until the tenth game where the Japanese number two was serving for the match.
All Bellis needed was one opportunity to level the score at five-all. The American had two break chances to force a decider but Doi held to force a breaker. At two separate times in the breaker, Doi won a string of consecutive points and that doomed Bellis as she lost in the breaker 3-7.
This is Doi’s third consecutive victory after winning two matches to qualify for the main draw. She will face Agnieszka Radwanska, the second seed, in the next round.