Belinda Bencic holds of Bianca Andreescu in straight sets at French Open

Belinda Bencic celebrates during a key point in her second-round match with Bianca Andreescu at the French Open. 

Belinda Bencic handled a tough match to get the revenge she waited three years for at the French Open Wednesday. The 25-year-old found a solution late in the second set against Bianca Andreescu, who surged back, but fell 6-2, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier on the grounds of Roland Garros. It was an important win for the 14^th seed, who leveled the series with the Canadian, who was responsible for denying her a major final. 

The reigning Olympic gold medalist met a former adversary for the first time since their 2019 US Open semifinal. It was there that the Canadian went on to win the championship, making a true name for herself. Since that time, Andreescu had struggled to play her game since early last year. Returning during the clay-court season was an easy transition after posting a quarterfinal appearance in Rome last week. 

Though she had a victory against Bencic, the Swiss had her strengths that matched better than the 21-year-old, who wanted to surpass her second-round personal best. Bencic’s schooling of Reka Jani on Monday was a prime example of comfortability and that even under pressure, she could be a dangerous opponent. 

In the opening game, she made that clear, holding Andreescu to a point for the break. Bencic consolidated in the second and watched the Canadian get on the board during her service. The Swiss went back to her mission of taking time away from Andreescu, who wasn’t playing on her favorite surface. Down two games, the 21-year-old held service in the fifth while feeding off the energy of the supporters in the stands. 

The 14^th seed took care of business and went into the seventh determined to steal points away from Andreescu. Playing with two breakpoints, Bencic secured the break and a 5-2 lead on a ball long from the Canadian. To seal off the first set, Bencic dominated on serve, producing three set points. Andreescu saved one on a painted line winner but went down on a long ball near the feet of Bencic. 33 minutes had elapsed for the 14^th seed, who notched just six winners but won 14 of 17 from the first serve. Andreescu was marked for ten unforced errors, proving that the Swiss had successfully taken time and energy away from the Canadian. 

Bencic rushed into the second, putting herself into a new gear that Andreescu couldn’t handle. The 14^th seed achieved the first breakpoint, pushing again when the 21-year-old forced deuce. With the break in hand, Bencic cruised through her service game, allowing Andreescu a single point before taking a 2-0 lead. Andreescu tried to get her game in check and hold Bencic back while on serve. Reaching 40-15 looked to be a sign of success until the 14^th seed made it to deuce. It only took the 25-year-old a break to gain the AD point and score the double break on the Canadian. 

Unforced errors from Andreescu gifted Bencic another easy service which she took on an ace down the T. Errors into the net from Bencic in the following game allowed Andreescu to secure a hold of serve and applause from the crowd. While she hoped that more would come from the lone victory, Bencic had other plans. The 14^th seed swept the competition and took the pivotal 5-1 lead, leaving Andreescu to serve for an extension of the match. 

The Canadian capitalized on her opponent’s mistake and gave her own game a lifeline, Andreescu succeeded in a second win. Bencic served for a chance to serve it out, but errors into the net cost her dearly. The Swiss handed Andreescu three breakpoints in the eighth game before saving one. A second was on the Canadian, who sent it into the net, but a long ball from Bencic capped the game for the 21-year-old. 

Andreescu chipped another game from Bencic, who was rattled by the errors. With the score at 5-4, the Swiss were under pressure to shut her opponent out. A double fault from the 14^th seed was a huge blunder but nailed down an ace to force deuce. Bencic brought up a match point but a long rally ended with her backhanding a shot into the net. Andreescu screamed in delight that deuce was back in but another chance for Bencic arrived. 

The Canadian smashed another match point away, but when Bencic gained another, she made sure it stuck. The Swiss star remained clutch on the court and on her third attempt, watched the return from Andreescu go long to breathe a sigh of relief after 1 hour and 21 minutes. 

“This is tennis and maybe I need a little drama,” Bencic said during her on-court interview. “I think Bianca is a great player and of course, it was going to be tight. I lost the focus just a little bit and I think that’s enough for her to come back. I’m happy that in the important moments I was strong and I think this is most important to show some fight.”

Bencic wouldn’t get to rest long as she would face another US Open finalist in Leylah Fernandez, who took her down in the Billy Jean King Cup two years ago.