Belinda Bencic joins Kiki Bertens and Elise Mertens at Libema Open
The grass season on the WTA Tour will kick off between June 10-16 in s-Hertogenbosch at Libema Open, with Kiki Bertens and Elise Mertens as the first confirmed players to headline the field. On Wednesday, the organizers have added another big name to their entry list, with Belinda Bencic singing to play her fourth Libema Open. Struggling with injuries in the last couple of years, Belinda finally found the rhythm at the end of 2018, gathering the momentum and using it at Hopman Cup where she won the title together with Roger Federer. A week later, former world no. 7 lost in the semi-final in Hobart and the third round at the Australian Open to Petra Kvitova who was too strong at that moment.
The best was yet to come for the experienced youngster, though, delivering her most exceptional tennis in Dubai to topple four straight top-8 rivals and lift the title, the first since Toronto four years ago! After a suitable rest, Belinda reached the semi-final at Indian Wells where Angelique Kerber halted her in straight sets, losing ground a little bit in the next three tournaments before making a solid start in Stuttgart on Wednesday. After a clay swing, Belinda will make the first steps on grass at Libema Open, failing to qualify there back in 2012 at the age of 15 and playing in the final three years later, beating Mladenovic and Jankovic before losing to Giorgi.
Kristina Mladenovic halted her in the semis 12 months later and the Swiss will try to bounce back after an early exit last June when a qualifier Veronika Kudermetova took her down in three sets. After that good display here in 2015, Belinda went on to conquer Eastbourne a few weeks later and she will be eager to make more damage on grass after an impressive performance on the Tour in the opening four months.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2L3zuqh
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