🎾 WTA Charleston: Kenin vs Bencic

🎾 WTA Charleston: Kenin vs Bencic – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🟩 Belinda Bencic

• 👶 Post-maternity return: Stormed back onto tour in 2025 with a R4 at the Australian Open, a title in Abu Dhabi, and a QF in Indian Wells.
• 🌿 Charleston mastery: Former champion (2022), finalist (2023), and semifinalist as a teenager—an elite 17–6 record at this venue.
• 🔁 Green clay specialist: Loves Charleston’s slick clay, which enhances her early-strike game and flatter ball trajectory.
• 🧠 High tennis IQ: Combines anticipation, clean ball-striking, and tactical discipline—particularly effective in these conditions.

🟥 Sofia Kenin

• 🧱 Resurgent season: After years of injuries, she’s posted 4 WTA QFs since last fall, including a final in Tokyo and QF in Dubai.
• 🎾 Charleston puzzle: Despite six attempts, she’s never been past R2 at this event—surprising given her clay credentials.
• ✅ Strong opener: Beat Bernarda Pera 6–3, 6–4 in R1—her first win here since 2021—looked composed and steady.
• 🎯 Tactical fighter: Not overpowering, but thrives on backhand precision, shot tolerance, and resilience in extended rallies.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a matchup of proactive aggression versus calculated counterpunching. Bencic is at her best when stepping inside the baseline, taking time away, and finishing points early—Charleston’s green clay enhances that style.

Kenin will need to slow things down, force longer exchanges, and apply pressure to Bencic’s timing. She has the tools to frustrate opponents with her backhand and rally smarts—but hasn’t historically found her rhythm on these courts.

If this turns into a scrappy fight, both are capable battlers. But Bencic’s track record here and sharp form since her return make her the more trustworthy pick.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Bencic in 2 tight sets

Kenin will push, but Bencic’s confidence, tactical clarity, and Charleston comfort zone should carry her through—unless the American rediscovers the level that once made her a Slam champion.