🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Belinda Bencic vs Zeynep Sonmez

🎾 WTA Madrid R1: Belinda Bencic vs Zeynep Sonmez – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇨🇭 Belinda Bencic

• Postpartum power: Returned from maternity leave with strong form, reminding the tour of her top-level pedigree.
• Early success: Won the title in Abu Dhabi and backed it up with a QF in Indian Wells and R4 finish at the Australian Open.
• Recent wobble: Suffered a surprising 6-0, 6-3 loss to Sofia Kenin in Charleston, ending her 2025 streak of opening-round wins.
• Madrid comfort: Semifinalist in 2019 and quarterfinalist in 2021—her game suits the altitude and faster clay here.

🇹🇷 Zeynep Sonmez

• Madrid milestone: Qualified for the main draw—her first time winning back-to-back completed matches in 2025.
• Breakout in 2024: Claimed her maiden WTA title in Merida and soared into the top 80.
• Struggles on clay: Has yet to reach a second round at WTA level on red clay (early exits at Roland-Garros, Prague, Rabat).

🔍 Match Breakdown

Bencic enters Madrid with proven success in altitude clay conditions, where her precise timing and clean groundstrokes get rewarded. Her ability to redirect pace and take the ball early is especially effective at this venue.

Sonmez has grit and momentum from qualifying, but she’s still adapting to the demands of clay and will face a steep learning curve against a polished opponent like Bencic. The Swiss has the tools to control tempo, neutralize early aggression, and exploit movement gaps.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Belinda Bencic in 2 sets

Sonmez may hang in early thanks to her qualifying rhythm, but Bencic’s composure, Madrid history, and cleaner shotmaking should lead her to a straightforward win.