Belinda Bencic secured a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Tatjana Maria in the first round of Indian Wells, extending her strong run in 2025. The Swiss player now holds a 14-4 record this season, having also claimed the title at the Abu Dhabi Open.
Since her return from maternity leave, Bencic has been one of the most in-form players at the start of the year. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist delivered an inspired performance, dropping just two games in a match that lasted just over an hour.
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First Set
Bencic, a semifinalist in 2019, showed no signs of slowing down as the Sunshine Double got underway. The Swiss quickly broke Maria to love and took control with her serve. She secured back-to-back breaks, racing to a 4-0 lead within 20 minutes.
Maria managed to hold serve once but had no chance of staging a comeback. Bencic broke for a third time to close out the set 6-1. The Swiss won 83% of her first-serve points compared to just 38% for Maria. On second serves, Bencic also dominated with 60% won, while the German managed only 33%.
Second Set
At the start of the second set, Maria seemed to regain some stability, holding serve to level at 1-1. However, from that point on, Bencic completely took over, capitalizing on her opponent’s errors.
The 27-year-old won the next five games in a row, claiming 20 of the final 24 points. She won an impressive 72% of the points in the set and, without facing a single break point, sealed a 6-1, 6-1 victory to move into the second round. Her next challenge will be against world No. 18 Amanda Anisimova, the recent Qatar Open champion.
Match Statistics Bencic vs. Maria
| Bencic | VS | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 0 | Aces | 1 |
| 3 | Double Faults | 2 |
| 62% (24/39) | 1st Service Percentage | 63% (26/41) |
| 83% (20/24) | 1st Service Points Won | 38% (10/26) |
| 60% (9/15) | 2nd Service Points Won | 33% (5/15) |
| - (0/0) | Break Points Saved | 38% (3/8) |
| 100% (7/7) | Service Games | 29% (2/7) |
| Return | ||
| 62% (16/26) | 1st Return Points Won | 17% (4/24) |
| 67% (10/15) | 2nd Return Points Won | 40% (6/15) |
| - | Break Points Saved | - |
| Other | ||
| 1h 06m | Match Duration | 1h 06m |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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