Elina Svitolina, the No. 22 seed, stunned spectators with a remarkable show of skill at the Miami Open, effortlessly defeating Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-2 to secure her place in the third round. The Ukrainian tennis star’s performance was nothing short of a masterclass, instantly setting high expectations for the tournament’s upcoming matches.
The second-round clash between the Ukrainian and Swiss rivals was anticipated to be one of the event’s highlights. However, Svitolina, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2023, turned the match into a one-sided affair, completely dominating Bencic in their first encounter since 2019.
Svitolina’s prowess was on full display during the match, where she successfully capitalized on every break point opportunity, achieving an impressive 5-of-5. She also managed to fend off all three of Bencic’s break point attempts, further solidifying her dominance on the court.
From the outset, the former world No. 3 exerted her superior game with consecutive breaks, quickly accumulating a 4-0 lead before securing her third break of the match in the seventh game. This further solidified her position and allowed her to clinch the first set.
In the second set, Svitolina continued her relentless onslaught, securing breaks in the fourth and eighth games, thereby wrapping up her two-set victory. Bencic, on the other hand, had two break points in the third game and another one in the seventh but failed to capitalize on any of these opportunities.
This victory marks Svitolina’s third win against Bencic, bringing their head-to-head record to 3-2 in favor of the Ukrainian. Their previous encounter was at the 2019 WTA Finals, where Svitolina also emerged victorious.
Svitolina’s next challenge will be the 15th seed, Karolina Muchova, in the Miami Open’s third round. Muchova had a compelling performance against Victoria Azarenka, winning the first set before Azarenka retired due to injury.
Interestingly, this will be Svitolina’s second match against a rival she hasn’t faced since 2019. Six years ago, she triumphed over the Czech player in Dubai, and continued her winning streak against Muchova at their 2019 Wimbledon meeting.
However, the upcoming match promises to be a captivating showdown. Muchova has significantly improved her game since their last encounter, presenting a formidable challenge to Svitolina. Despite Svitolina’s recent demolition of Bencic, and her consequent surge in confidence, the match against Muchova is expected to be a high-stakes affair, possibly resulting in an intense duel between the two powerhouses.
