United Cup
Bencic shines as Switzerland surge into United Cup QFs
Taking part in captain Wawrinka has spent six hours on court docket throughout two singles matches
January 04, 2026
TENNIS AUSTRALIA
Belinda Bencic defeats Jasmine Paolini in straight units on Sunday in Perth.
By ATP/WTA Employees
Belinda Bencic delivered a standout all-around efficiency on Sunday on the United Cup in Perth, the place she led Switzerland previous Italy and into the quarter-finals.
The 28-year-old first put Switzerland in management with a composed singles victory over World No. 3 Jasmine Paolini, earlier than returning to the court docket later within the day to assist resolve the tie in combined doubles. After Flavio Cobolli levelled the competition with a dramatic deciding-set tie-break win over Stan Wawrinka, Bencic teamed with Jakub Paul to defeat three-time main champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.
The end result secured Switzerland high spot in Group C with an ideal 2-0 report and despatched them into the United Cup quarter-finals for the primary time within the event’s historical past. Taking part in captain Wawrinka, who has spent six hours on court docket throughout his two matches, is competing in his closing season on the ATP Tour.
Cobolli, the No. 22 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, had earlier produced a clutch efficiency to outlast Wawrinka in a gripping 2-hour, 50-minute battle. The pair thrilled the RAC Area crowd deep into the deciding set, with Cobolli producing the shot of the match — a full-stretch forehand winner on the run — to earn an important mini-break within the final-set tie-break and enhance to 2-0 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence.
Earlier within the tie, Bencic laid the muse with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Paolini in 1 hour, 53 minutes.
“I’m actually pleased with at this time’s match,” Bencic stated on-court after the one hour and 53 minute match. “I misplaced to her actually shut on the finish of final season. I actually needed to set up my thoughts that ‘now it’s my time, I can do it.’ I believed it was a bit psychological at this time.”
Bencic improved to 2-0 in singles after additionally defeating Leolia Jeanjean on Saturday. Paolini will subsequent face Jeanjean when Italy meets France in its upcoming tie.
