Pavlyuchenkova completes remarkable comeback to defeat Bencic, Martic edges past Hsieh

The action continues at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova completing a brilliant turnaround to defeat Belinda Bencic in the first round in the event.

Pavlyuchenkova had a woeful first set coming within five points of losing in a golden set after Bencic claimed the first 19 points in the match but in the end the Russian returned to the foray and produced a brilliant finish.

She went from being on the verge of an embarrassing defeat to winning 12 out of the last 13 games to win against a top 5 player for the 15th time and for the second time this season.

This is another early round defeat for Bencic and it means the defending champion is now out of the competition at this first round stage.

For Petra Martic though it was a lot more simpler with the number eight seed easing past Su-Wei Hsieh in a 6-4, 6-3 win and she will next take on Barbora Strycova who defeated Amanda Anisimova yesterday.

Also through is Kristina Mladenovic who similarly eased past Aliaksandra Sasnovich in a 6-4, 6-3 win; as well as Veronika Kudermetova who edged past Dayana Yastremska in a closely fought win.

Yastremska took the first set before Kudermetova levelled it up lending itself to a tense decider and it was just that with the latter taking it 7-6 to move through.

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