Lauren Davis and Belinda Bencic faced off against each other for just the second time. Bencic edged the head to head, after defeating Davis in straight sets in the previous meeting. Coming into the match today, Bencic was struggling to find any form. The young Swiss had not won a single match since becoming a top ten player, and would have been looking to change this statistic today.
Bencic Battles Back From A Break Down
The set started of with both players holding their opening service games. Davis was the player who took the lead in the set, as she capitalized on her second break point to take the third game. The American player then backed up the break of serve by winning her service game.
Bencic fought hard to get back into the set, and her efforts soon paid off. The Swiss player broke Davis with her first break point opportunity of the match. This leveled the score and changed the momentum in the set. After picking up the break of serve, Bencic grew in confidence and won the remaining three games of the set. The 19-year-old consolidated the break by comfortably holding her service. Bencic then went on to extend her lead with another break of serve in the eighth game.
After losing the previous four games in a row, Davis seemed to have no idea on how to slow her opponents momentum, and there was nothing the American could do to prevent Bencic from serving the set out. Bencic took the set on the first time of asking after a number of impressive shots.
Davis Takes The Second Set
After a disappointing first set, Davis bounced back and picked up an early break of serve. The American only needed one break point to put herself ahead in the set. Davis was looking impressive, as she went on to hold her serve with ease and extend her lead in the set.
Bencic did get herself back into the set, and it looked like the Swiss player was going to do exactly what she had done in the first set and bounce back from a break down to win the set. However, after being broken to love, Davis regained her focus and kept herself ahead in the set.
Being American, Davis had the majority of the support from the crowd. This support spurred her on and she went on to break Bencic's serve on the first time of asking once again. It was clear that Davis's play was frustrating Bencic, and the American capitalized on this, as she went on to win the set, without dropping another game.
Unlike most other players, Davis did not falter when serving for the set. The American held her service game to love to take the match to a third set.
Davis Fights Hard, But Bencic Is Too Strong
Bencic got the set off to a strong start by holding her opening service game to love. The 19-year-old then had a break point opportunity in the second game. This was saved by Davis who went on to take the game herself. Davis then had her own chance to gain a lead in the set, however Bencic fought off both of Davis's break point opportunites before winning the game.
The first break of serve came in the sixth game, as Bencic came from 40-15 down to create a break point opportunity for herself. This time around Davis could do nothing to stop the Swiss player from putting herself ahead in the set.
Davis was not behind for long. With the crowd fully behind their girl, Davis fought her way back into the set. The 22-year-old American broke Bencic, putting the set back on serve. Despite her best efforts though, the American could not consoloidate the break, and after some big hitting, especially on the forehand side, Bencic broke Davis once again.
The world number eight, found herself with the chance to serve for the set. Davis battled hard in the game to try and prevent Bencic from winning the match, however, it was not enough. Bencic took the game, set and match on the first time of asking.
After a tough battle which lasted just under two hours it is the Swiss player will progresses in the tournament. Bencic will face Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the third round.
