By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, January 13, 2025
Photo credit: John Buckle/Rolex
Facing a familiar face, Belinda Bencic withstood friendly fire to score her first major win as a mom.
The 2020 Olympic gold-medal champion Bencic beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-6(6) to reach the Australian Open second round nine years after her fourth round run in Melbourne Park.
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Afterward, Bencic said facing the big-hitting Ostapenko is like a tennis version of Russian roulette: every shot can be fatal.
“I think it’s tricky to play her. Sometimes it feels like a little bit of Russian roulette,” Bencic said with a smile. “Sometimes you’re a spectator on your own court.
“Yeah, I tried to stay consistent, stay tough in important moments. Glad that it was enough today. Obviously very happy with the win and with the chance to play another round.”
When Ostapenko was…
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