Bencic grinds through epic to claim Ningbo survival

Belinda Bencic’s first full season back on the WTA Tour since 2023 has demanded unyielding focus, blending the joys of motherhood with the grind of competition. In Ningbo’s second round, that focus faced its ultimate trial against qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, a match that unfolded into a tactical endurance test under the evening lights. The No. 6 seed clawed her way to a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory after 3 hours and 33 minutes, eclipsing all other main-draw battles this year and marking the 46th contest to top three hours.

The hard courts here, with their predictable bounce, amplified every exchange, turning baseline duels into marathons of redirection and depth. Bencic, rebuilding her ranking from outside the top 20, leaned on varied patterns to counter the Ukrainian’s probing returns, her flat groundstrokes finding targets amid rising tension. As the clock ticked past two hours, the crowd’s murmurs built into cheers, sensing a decider that would define both players’ campaigns.

Opening set slips amid rising pressure

Bencic grabbed an early 5-4 lead in the first set, firing crosscourt forehands that forced Starodubtseva deep and opened angles for set point on the qualifier’s serve. But the Ukrainian saved it with a down-the-line backhand, her underspin keeping the ball low and disrupting rhythm, then broke to level at 5-5. Two games later, another break sealed the set after 73 minutes, as Starodubtseva’s defensive depth turned Bencic’s aggression against her.

This opener echoed the season’s broader challenges for the Swiss player, where early momentum often gave way to extended fights on fast surfaces. She reset by mixing slice approaches with inside-out forehands, aiming to vary pace and pull her opponent off the baseline. The loss stung, yet Bencic’s composure held, her eyes fixed on reclaiming control in the next frame.

Second set rally forges decider edge

Undaunted, Bencic powered to 5-2 in the second, her serve-volley combinations cutting off retrievals and pressuring second serves on Ningbo’s speedy hard courts. Starodubtseva rallied to 5-4, breaking with a sharp crosscourt pass that exploited forward positioning. This time, though, Bencic held and converted set point with a one–two of serve and inside-in forehand, forcing a decider after more than two hours and tilting the mental balance.

The shift highlighted Bencic’s tactical evolution, reducing errors by approaching the net more selectively and redirecting the Ukrainian’s flat returns. Crowd energy surged with the level set, the air thick with anticipation for a third that promised deeper drama. Her adjustments paid off, shortening points and building confidence for the final push.

BENCIC FINDS A WAY 💪@BelindaBencic defeats Starodubtseva 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in a lengthy battle in Ningbo.#NingboOpen pic.twitter.com/nT7R6Lve6p

— wta (@WTA) October 15, 2025

Decider drama seals resilient advance

In the third, Bencic built another 5-2 lead, her down-the-line backhands stretching the court and overwhelming with consistent depth. Starodubtseva saved two match points, breaking to 5-3 and leveling at 5-all through tenacious returns that flipped defense into offense. Bencic broke back right away on a forehand winner off a short ball, then held at love to claim her third match point and the win, exhaustion mixing with relief as the Ningbo crowd roared.

This marathon, topping Coco Gauff’s 3:32 semifinal over Zheng Qinwen in Rome by a minute, underscored 2025’s parity, with 45 other three-hour epics from Viktorija Golubic’s 3:30 in Cluj-Napoca to the 3:00 ties at the Australian Open. Bencic’s grit here, her fourth quarterfinal of the year, positions her against the winner of Jasmine Paolini and Veronika Kudermetova—a matchup blending consistency and familiarity.

“Jasmine is playing amazing,” Bencic noted. “She’s a top player and she’s really consistent. And with Veronika, we’ve played so many matches already. It’s always going one way or the other, so she’d be tough as well.” The social pulse captured the moment’s fire, with @BelindaBencic at the center of #NingboOpen buzz, highlighted by visuals from pic.twitter.com/nT7R6Lve6p shared on October 15, 2025. For the tournament’s pulse, the Ningbo scores, draws, and order of play map the path ahead, where Bencic’s persistence could spark a deeper run on these demanding courts.