Click to open the share function.
Remains undefeated
Das Duo Jakub Paul/Belinda Bencic.
Keystone/Richard Wainwright
- Switzerland won the United Cup in Perth, Australia, 2-1 against Italy.
- Thanks to the second win in the second group game, the team is in the quarterfinals.
- Belinda Bencic (WTA 11) wins her singles against Jasmine Paolini and alongside Jakub Paul in the doubles.
- In between, Stan Wawrinka (ATP 157) has to bow to Flavio Cobolli (ATP 22) in a marathon game.
After the confident 3-0 win against France at the start, Switzerland was challenged a little more in the second group game against Italy. Because it was 1:1 after the 2 singles, the doubles had to decide. Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul once again competed in the third game, and again the decision was only made in the match tiebreak.
In the end, Bencic/Paul beat the Italian duo Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori 7:5, 4:6, 10:7 in almost 2 hours. In the quick decision, the two Swiss made up for a 1:3 deficit and converted their second match point.
Bencic defeats world number 8
The start of the duel at the United Cup had already been positive thanks to Bencic (WTA 11). The Eastern Swiss made an excellent impression against Jasmine Paolini, who was ranked 3 places higher, and won 6:4 and 6:3 in just under 2 hours.
Even an epic 7th game in the 2nd set didn’t put Bencic out of step. This game went over deuce 7 times, with Bencic missing 2 break points to make it 5:2. So Paolini shortened the score to 3:4, but the Swiss won the remaining two games, which was synonymous with victory.
The start of the game was like a break festival. It took until the 6th game before a player was able to get her serve through. Significantly, it was Bencic who won the game to make it 4-2 and thus make the preliminary decision in the first set.
Another marathon match from Wawrinka
In the 2nd singles, Stan Wawrinka (ATP 157) was challenged against Flavio Cobolli (ATP 22). Like the day before against Arthur Rinderknech (FRA/ATP 29), Romand was the clear outsider, but that didn’t stop him from demanding everything from his opponent again.
Although it was enough to surprise Rinderknech, Wawrinka Cobolli had to admit defeat after just under 3 hours. In the first set, one break at 4:4 was enough for the Italian to win the round. Both players then completed their service, which is why the tiebreak had to be decided twice.
Wawrinka clearly won the first tiebreak 7:2. It was closer in the second short decision, in which Wawrinka came back to 4:5 after being 2:5 behind, but then had to give up the following two serves. He helped with a double fault on match point Cobolli.
This is how it continues
As group winners, Switzerland is already in the quarter-finals. There Bencic and Co. will meet the winners of Group E (Greece or Great Britain). The duel will also take place in Perth in the evening session on Wednesday.
Results
Click to open the share function.
