Belinda Bencic advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto by defeating rising star Alexandra Eala 6-4, 6-0 on Sunday. The Swiss player, ranked 14th in the WTA, overcame a lively crowd at the venue to secure her spot in the next round, according to reports from Swiss news agencies published via 20min.ch and latele.ch.
Mastering the Match Against Eala
Entering the round-of-16 matchup, Bencic faced a dangerous opponent in the 21-year-old from the Philippines, who entered the contest riding a seven-match winning streak and holding a title won just six days earlier in Washington. While Eala enjoyed enthusiastic backing from the spectators, Bencic took control by sweeping the final eight games of the match. The first set saw some early volatility, as Bencic surrendered her serve twice after twice establishing a break advantage. However, she tightened her defense against an opponent who had dealt with a right ankle injury during her previous match, ultimately coasting through a flawless second set.
Extending an Unbeaten Run Against Left-Handers
Sunday’s victory marked Bencic’s tenth win against left-handed opponents, a statistical streak that surprised the Olympic champion from Tokyo 2021. Speaking to the WTA, Bencic admitted that the trend is somewhat ironic given her personal preference on the court. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence. But it’s also a bit strange because in reality, I don’t like playing against left-handers at all,” she explained. She added that facing southpaws feels consistently uncomfortable, though she credits her strong timing and adaptability for helping her navigate those matchups successfully.
High-Stakes Quarterfinal Ahead Against Coco Gauff
With her victory over Eala secured, Bencic shifts her focus to a challenging quarterfinal showdown against world number four Coco Gauff. Historical data shows Bencic trailing 6-2 in her head-to-head record against the American star, who has won their last four encounters, including a straight-sets victory in the fourth round of Wimbledon. Bencic will look to reverse that trend when she steps onto the court for her next scheduled appearance in Toronto.
