Belinda Bencic through in straight sets in Australian Open start

Belinda Bencic was in fine form during her opening round match against Kristina Mladenovic at the Australian Open. 

Belinda Bencic proved herself strong and composed to a victorious first round at the Australian Open Monday. The Swiss star added another win that put her closer to evening the series with Kristina Mladenovic winning 6-4, 6-3. Showing her level of skill and some frustration on herself, the 22^nd seed came through with a good win at Kia Arena on the grounds of Melbourne Park. 

The two went at it for the ninth time in their careers, with the French star still leading the series. They met only on the clay courts last season, with both splitting wins at Rome and Madrid. In their first hard-court march in three years, Bencic carried leverage in her time playing tennis while the Frenchwoman had yet to record a match played this year. Coming in cold to a slam is not often seen by a WTA veteran, but if her skill play was up to speed, it would give the reigning Olympic champion something to be concerned with. 

A battle ensued between the two players as Bencic faced heavy opposition quickly. Mladenovic overcame a 15-40 situation and forced deuce in what was becoming a lengthy fight. Though they only went two breaks, Mladenovic scored the break that put her opponent on notice. Bencic broke back with a late strike in the second, holding the only AD point for herself. The 22^nd seed got through her hold of serve, with the Frenchwoman following suit.

The next six games were played well when it came to the hold of serves from Bencic and Mladenovic. The 22^nd seed made sure that she held the important ninth game that gave her the key edge to go for the set. In the tenth, Bencic got Mladenovic into submission for three set points, bringing an end to 49 minutes of play. While the French star had twice as many winners, the 24-year-old made only seven compared to Mladenovic’s 17 that stood out as the difference-maker in what was a near-even fight. 

Bencic came into the second, scoring another shutout while on serve. She then backed it up with a break that gave her the biggest lead of the match. Mladenovic managed to break back in the third, but a double break for Bencic widened the gap 3-1. She consolidated the success of the third and made it 4-1, with Mladenovic struggling to find her way back in. She managed to get one to cut the margin down to a pair. 

Bencic answered in the seventh with a key hold of serve to sit a game from the second round. Mladenovic refused to give her the satisfaction and cut into another. It was Bencic who served for it in the ninth gaining two match points against Mladenovic, who fired a ball beyond the baseline to win in 1 hour and 29 minutes.