Belinda Bencic puts the brakes on Kamilla Rakhimova at US Open

Belinda Bencic celebrated a point won during her first round match at the US Open. 

Belinda Bencic had a late slip of control occur late, but held it together for a straight-sets win at the US Open. Kamilla Rakhimova almost had a third set on the horizon against the 15th seed but couldn’t keep her momentum up, losing 6-2, 6-4 on Court 7 at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. It was a match full of errors that changed the tide of control in their opening-round match.

The Swiss entered her eighth time at the US Open, having a strong output in Montreal and Washington DC. Her two quarterfinals in those cities left her, with a chance to make the second week. Having not faced Rakhimova before left no worries for the 15th seed, who could handle a three-setter but would prefer to close out the first round early. Taking time off after her first-round loss in Cincinnati was not a bad move for the 26-year-old, who had the best success at the major in her career.

She started the match behind on the scoreboard but forced deuce on Rakhimova’s service. After a few breaks, the Swiss star gained the AD point twice and put a break in her pocket. Bencic backed up the break, with an easy service game, leading the 22-year-old. The Swiss star denied anything from Rakhimova in the third, breaking her to love for a commanding 3-0 lead.

Rakhimova broke back to love in the fourth, but the battle to contain service was a tough challenge. The 15th seed traded points in the fifth, reaching another breakpoint opportunity. She earned it on a double fault from the 22-year-old, regaining her three-game gap. Bencic held the sixth game, dealing with a challenge on deuce from Rakhimova. She earned a shot at playing for the set on her opponent’s service but fell behind 0-40. Bencic gained two points on errors from the 22-year-old, then forced deuce on a clean forehand crosscourt.

Rakhimova got a grip on the AD point and scored another win against Bencic on an ace down the T. Sitting three games up, the Swiss star served to close out the first but had to come back from 15-40 down to force deuce. After saving a breakpoint, Bencic clinched set point and sealed the match lead after 43 minutes. Both players had 13 errors each, but the offense from Bencic was the strongest on both the first and second serves.

Rakhimova knew she couldn’t let the second go the way of the first and served to love to make a statement. Bencic didn’t let that bother her but was forced to fight her way into control on serve in the second. She worked herself into the third to break and backed it up on serve in the fourth. She clinched the double break for a 4-1 lead, inching closer to victory. Rakhimova had a break to love shot in the sixth, but Bencic fought to save every breakpoint.

It was a short stint for the Swiss star, who clinched the AD point and was up 5-1. The 22-year-old served to stay in the match, allowing Bencic a single point en route to a service hold. She added a break to her momentum, sitting two games from threatening the 15th seed. Rakhimova put Bencic on the ropes, winning on serve in the ninth.

Knowing she couldn’t let a third set come to fruition, the Swiss star held her opponent back and made good of the second match point. A forehand error from Rakhimova gave Bencic a sign of relief, ending what could have been a drama-filled match in 1 hour and 40 minutes.