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[13] Belina Bencic -12- (SUI) def [23] Donna Vekic -23- (CRO)
Match recap from Arthur Ashe Stadium announcer Andy Taylor.
Today, Belinda Bencic returned to the stage that put her name on the map. In 2014, as a 17-year-old Martina Hingis prodigy, she reached the US Open Quarterfinals with upsets over Angelique Kerber and Jelena Jankovic.
Injuries have halted her ascent over the past 2-years, but today’s victory is validation that wrist surgery and rehab were well worth it. For the first time in her life, she’s a Grand Slam Semifinalist.
For the first time in her life, she’s earned $960,000 for winning five consecutive tennis matches.
NEXT: [15] Bianca Andreescu -15- (CAN) vs [13] Belina Bencic -12- (SUI)
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Quarterfinal Biography | [13] Belina Bencic -12- (SUI)
On Monday, for the 3rd-time this season, she defeated World #1 and defending US Open Champion Naomi Osaka to reach her second US Open Quarterfinal. 5-years-ago, in her US Open debut, she earned her first two top-10 victories – and at 17-years-old, reached the Final-8 at a Major for the first time. Injured in 2017, she missed 5-months of the season and dropped outside the top-300 – but she is back in rhythm playing some of the best tennis of her career. In Dubai, she won her 3rd WTA Singles title, reached her 9th career Final in Mallorca and has earned 8 top-10 wins this year alone, including two victories over the World #1. Ranked as high as World #7, she started the season as the World #55 – but comes into this year’s US Open back in the top-12. Making her 2nd Grand Slam Quarterfinal appearance, from Switzerland – Please welcome Belinda Bencic.
▲ QF: def [23] Donna Vekic -23- (CRO) 76(5) 63
▲ R4: def [1] Naomi Osaka -01- (JPN) 75 64
▲ R3: def -WALKOVER- | [21] Anett Kontaveit -21- (EST)
▲ R2: def Alize Cornet -64- (FRA) 64 16 62
▲ R1: def Mandy Minella -142- (LUX) 63 62
Quarterfinal Biography | [23] Donna Vekic -23- (CRO)
At 23-years-old, she owns 2 WTA Singles titles, is an 8-time Finalist – and today, is making her Grand Slam Quarterfinal debut. But this is not her only career-first this season. In St. Petersburg, she earned the biggest win of her career, defeating World #2 Petra Kvitova en-route to the championship match – then went on to reach the Round of 16 at Roland Garros for the first time. She made her 2nd run to a Final this year in Nottingham, and in June climbed to a career-high ranking of World #22. With a Round of 16 win over Germany’s Julia Görges, she is competing in her first US Open Quarterfinal. From Croatia, please welcome Donna Vekic.
▲ R4: def [26] Julia Görges -30- (GER) 67(5) 75 63
▲ R3: def Yulia Putintseva -39- (KAZ) 64 61
▲ R2: def Kaia Kanepi -82- (EST) 75 63
▲ R1: def Richel Hogenkamp -207- (NED) 76(4) 63
Head to Head
This was the 4th meeting between these two players. Belinda Bencic had won two of their previous matches. Before tonight, Donna Vekic won their most recent match in the 3rd-Round of Roland Garros.
