The match between Belinda Bencic and Tsvetana Pironkova was originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday. However, a number of rain delays meant that the two players had to wait until Wednesday evening to play their match. As the rain severely put Wimbledon behind schedule, Bencic and Pironkova got to play on Centre court, something many players can only dream of.
Bencic did not seem fazed by playing on the big stage as she picked up her third victory over Pironkova. The Swiss youngster looked comfortable during the match, showcasing why she is tipped to go on to achieve big things. There was nothing Pironkova could do to stop Bencic's momentum, which allowed Bencic to take the match in straight sets.
Bencic takes the first set with relative ease
Pironkova served first in the set and got herself onto the scoreboard straight away as she comfortably held her serve. Pironkova's start to the match was almost brilliant, as she quickly found herself with three chances to break Bencic in the second game. A number of well-placed shots allowed Bencic to save all three break points and take the score to deuce. The Swiss youngster then gifted Pironkova another break point, but once again she found a way to prevent Pironkova from converting it. Bencic eventually won the game, keeping the set on serve.
The Bulgarian was left ruing her missed opportunities in the third game, as Bencic broke. Bencic looked full of confidence as she hit a string of winners to give herself a break point opportunity. The 19-year-old took the game on the first time of asking, giving herself a slight edge in the match. Bencic went on to consolidate the break with a strong hold of serve.
Things went from bad to worse for Pironkova, as Bencic's confidence continued to rise. Pironkova tried her best but she could do nothing to stop Bencic putting herself a double break up in the match. Bencic was looking like the player she was before her injury, and she quickly found herself 5-1 ahead in the set, after a strong love hold of service.
Pironkova did manage to add another game to the scoreboard in the seventh game. Winning the game was not easy for Pironkova, as Bencic pushed her all the way to the final point. The Bulgarian had to fight off two set point opportunities on her way to holding her service and adding a second game onto the board.
With the score now at 5-2, it meant that Bencic had the chance to serve to win the opening set. The Swiss player looked to be cruising to a comfortable hold of service, as she raced to a 40-0 lead, however, Pironkova was not willing to go down without a fight. Pironkova fought hard, preventing Bencic from taking the set on two occasions. In the end, though Bencic was too strong, and the Swiss youngster took the set at the fifth time of asking.
Pironkova battles but Bencic is too strong
After the disappointment of losing the first set, Pironkova would have wanted to start the second set strongly. The Bulgarian did just that as she held her opening service game. Bencic then stepped up to the service line full of confidence, this showed as she played some brilliant shots on her way to winning the game. The first break point chances in the set were for Bencic. Bencic worked herself two separate opportunities to break Pironkova, but the Bulgarian managed to save them both before going on to win the game herself.
Bencic soon gained control in the second set, as she picked up a break of service in the fifth game. The Swiss youngster was returning well throughout the game, which helped put her in a position to break Pironkova. This time around Bencic did not falter, as she took the game at the first time of asking. Like in the previous set, Bencic managed to consolidate the break, despite Pironkova's best efforts.
Pironkova was playing well and hitting some impressive shots, but it still was not enough to halt Bencic's momentum. The 19-year-old put herself into an even more commanding position in the match, as she broke Pironkova once again in the eighth game. With the score at 5-2 in the second set, Bencic stepped up to the service line, to serve for the match. Bencic seemed unfazed during the whole match, this was until she went to served to win. The Swiss player seemed to let the pressure get to her, as she let three match points slip from her grasp. This allowed Pironkova to work her way back into the game, and after a couple of impressive shots, the Bulgarian found a way to break Bencic, to keep herself in the match for at least one more game.
Unfortunately, for Pironkova, her evening on Centre court was swiftly ended by Bencic. The Bulgarian gave her all to push Bencic but Bencic's shot making ability saw her across the line. Bencic looked unfazed by her failure to serve the set out, as she took the game, set, and match at the fourth time of asking.
After an impressive performance, Bencic progresses into the second round where she will face Julia Boserup.
