Bencic Powers Swiss Start in United Cup Perth Clash
Belinda Bencic turned a fleeting opening slip into a commanding display, securing a 6-2, 6-4 win over Leolia Jeanjean to ignite Switzerland’s 2026 United Cup campaign against France.
Belinda Bencic arrived at RAC Arena with the weight of fresh expectations, her game sharpened by a remarkable 2025 resurgence. The 28-year-old absorbed an early break to Leolia Jeanjean but quickly imposed her will, carving out a 6-2, 6-4 victory in 1 hour and 31 minutes. That backhand winner down the line in the final game not only sealed the match but handed Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the tie, setting the stage for Stan Wawrinka’s showdown with Arthur Rinderknech.
Bencic’s control stemmed from her net prowess and serve reliability, winning 23 of 29 points at the net while claiming 78 percent of her first-serve points. She mixed heavy topspin forehands with inside-out angles to disrupt Jeanjean’s baseline efforts, turning their first meeting into a one-sided affair. The Perth crowd’s rising energy mirrored her growing assurance on the hard courts.
“The last game was tricky with the Australian sun,” Bencic said after the match. “I think this is really one of the only places — to play in Australia — where you get into this situation. So I should have done better somehow. So I’m gonna find some solutions next time.”
Net dominance shifts the momentum
From the outset, Bencic leaned into aggressive net approaches, following deep crosscourt forehands that pulled Jeanjean forward and exposed her passing shots. This 1–2 pattern—serve followed by a quick rush—forced errors and short balls, allowing Bencic to finish points with volleys that echoed sharply off the arena walls. Jeanjean’s slices occasionally disrupted the rhythm, but Bencic’s adjustments, like varying her second-serve placement with underspin, kept the pressure unrelenting.
The hard-court speed in Perth favored her flat-to-topspin mix, where inside-in backhands sliced through defenses and pinned the French player deep. Crowd murmurs built into cheers as Bencic converted break points with poise, her footwork adapting seamlessly to the surface’s grip. This tactical edge not only neutralized Jeanjean’s counters but also built a quiet confidence that rippled through the Swiss bench.
Sun glare tests resurgent focus
As the second set wore on, the Australian sun’s glare crept into play, testing Bencic’s composure in that decisive final game. She shook off the distraction with a deep breath and a reliable serve, holding firm against mounting returns that grazed the lines. The psychological pivot came from her experience, turning environmental hurdles into mere footnotes in her dominant performance.
Bencic’s path from World No. 421 in January 2025 to year-end No. 11 reflected this resilience, earning her the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award after maternity leave. In Perth, that journey fueled her forward drive, with every net winner reinforcing her adaptation to the United Cup‘s intensity. The tie’s fate now rests with Wawrinka, but her victory has already infused Switzerland’s campaign with tactical poise.
“Last year, we didn’t expect it to go so well,” Bencic said. “Of course, I don’t think the work is done yet. I’m extremely happy to receive the Comeback Player of the Year award, and now it’s time to do more work and try to get better.”
Looking ahead, Bencic’s blend of net aggression and mental steadiness positions Switzerland for deeper runs in the 2026 United Cup. As the Perth lights dim on this opener, her performance hints at a team ready to navigate France’s challenge point by point. For full match details, check the ATP Tour coverage.
