Defending Champion Belinda Bencic Stunned at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship
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Belinda Bencic faced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in her opening match in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The two had met 6 times previously, with Bencic leading the head to head with 5 wins.
A very poor start by Anastasia in the opening set was quickly forgotten as she came back with renewed fight and determination in the next two sets to win the match 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.
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First Set: Easy pickings for Belinda Bencic
Belinda got off to a great start in the opening set, breaking Pavlyuchenkova in second game to go 2-0 up. The Swiss was serving quite well too as she consolidated the break with a hold to love.
The Russian looked shaken with the poor start and played a very tentative service game, unable to get her first serve in. She quickly went down -40 and hit an untimelt double fault to give Bencic her second break in the set.
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There was no looking back after that as Bencic continued to hold serve well. Pavlyuchenkova looked completely lost in the set. It looked more like a practice match for Belinda than a competition. The Swiss took the first set 6-1 and looked very much in command of the match.
Pavlyuchenkova fights back
Belinda Bencic crumbles
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