Belinda Bencic and Samantha Crawford produced an entertaining encounter during their first round clash at the US Open. It was Crawford who gained the early advantage in the match, as Bencic failed to capitalize on her chances which allowed the American to take the opening set. After a disappointing first set, Bencic showed her fighting spirit to take the second and third sets and book her spot in the second round.
Tiebreaker needed to decide the winner of the first set
The opening set was very close, with both players giving their all to try and put their selves in a strong position in the match. After two holds of service, it was Bencic who gained the upper hand in the set. The Swiss youngster made the most of her second break point opportunity to give herself an early lead. Crawford was not behind for long though, and after a string of impressive and powerful shots the American put the set back on serve.
Bencic showed glimpses of her pre injury form as she broke once again in the fifth game of the set. The twenty fourth seed, capitalized on some poor play by Crawford to give herself the lead in the set once again. Bencic consolidated the break with a strong hold of service to love, putting all of the momentum in her corner.
Crawford was not willing to let the set go without a fight. The American started to play her game by overpowering Bencic. This allowed her to work herself into a position to break Bencic once again in the eighth game. Crawford took the opportunity at the first time of asking, to level the score in the set once more.
The remaining games of the set were won by the player who was serving, which meant that a tiebreaker was needed to determine who would win the opening set. Bencic raced to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker and she looked to be cruising, however, after a string of errors and some strong play by Crawford, the score quickly changed. The American worked herself into a position to take the set, but Bencic managed to prevent her from taking it. After all of the impressive play, the tiebreaker was decided by a double fault from Bencic, which gifted Crawford the opening set.
Bencic levels the match
After the disappointment of losing the first set, Bencic would have been hoping to start the second set strongly. Unfortunately for the 19-year-old, Crawford broke her in the opening game. Crawford did not lead for very long, as Bencic hit a number of impressive shots to break back at the very first time of asking.
Both players started to find their rhythm on serve over the next few games in the set. Bencic and Crawford both held their service games with ease, with neither player dropping more than one point whilst serving. This was until the sixth game, where Bencic had two break point opportunities. Crawford fended off both of Bencic's chances to break, before going on to take the game herself.
Bencic eventually got her reward for her perseverance in the match, as she broke Crawford in the eight game. The Swiss youngster, looked like the player of 2015 as she edged past Crawford to pick up the break and give herself an opportunity to serve for the set. Bencic did not crack under the pressure of serving to take the match to a deciding third set, as she comfortably served out the game to take the set at the first time of asking.
Bencic wins the battle of the breaks
Like in the previous set, Crawford got off to a strong start by picking up an early break of serve before Bencic leveled the scores in the very next game. Both players were playing their best tennis, as they both fought to progress in the tournament.
Bencic and Crawford exchanged breaks in the fifth, sixth and seventh games with both players seemingly allowing their nerves to get the better of them. Bencic got the decisive break in the seventh game, after a string of impressive shots put her into the position to break Crawford at the first time of asking.
The Swiss youngster soon found herself 5-4 ahead in the set, and had the opportunity to serve for the match and a spot in the second round. Bencic raced to a 40-15 lead in the game and despite a late flourish from Crawford, Bencic took the game, set and match at the third time of asking.
After just under two and a quarter hours, Bencic picked up her first victory since Wimbledon. The 19-year-old progresses into the second round of the US Open where she will face Andrea Petkovic.