Bencic turns the tables on Azarenka with Doha win

Belinda Bencic finally earned a win over Victoria Azarenka after two previous losses to the Grand Slam champion, with the Swiss producing a 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 fightback into the quarter-finals of the WTA event in Doha on Wednesday.

Weekend Abu Dhabi champion Bencic, the No. 9, duplicated her last-eight showing in the Gulf from 2020 as she improved to 14-2 in a season of two titles.

Bencic turned on her jets trailing a set and 4-1 against two-time Australian Open winner Azarenka, reversing her negative trend and advancing after two and three-quarter hours.

Teenaged fourth seed Coco Gauff made a winning start after a bye, defeating double Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-6 (6).

Czech Kvitova was undone by 31 unforced errors, with Gauff holding her count to less than half of that in a win lasting 84 minutes.

“There were points I thought I played well, and she just came up with a good shot,” Gauff said of Kvitova.

“The only thing you can do is clap your hands and keep on moving. I just tried to focus on my end of the court and let her hit her winners and try to be aggressive when I could.

“I honestly didn’t have a lot of chances today. I think I definitely won more points on the defense.”