Belinda Bencic advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2026 Ningbo Open after her first-round opponent, Jeļena Ostapenko, retired due to injury. The Latvian, ranked 24th in the world, withdrew while trailing 6-3, 1-1 against the 14th-ranked Swiss player.
Ostapenko Requests Medical Timeout Before Retirement
In the opening set, Bencic quickly established dominance with a 3-0 lead. Although Ostapenko fought back to 3-2, the Swiss player regained control, breaking serve once more to close the set 6-3. However, signs of physical distress were evident in Ostapenko’s play. During the first set, she required a medical timeout to have her vital signs and blood pressure checked. After holding serve at the start of the second set, the Latvian decided to end the match prematurely.
Bencic Breaks Losing Streak and Advances
This victory halts a difficult run for Bencic, who had suffered back-to-back losses at the WTA 1000 tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan earlier in the Asian swing. Additionally, the win improves her head-to-head record against Ostapenko to 3-1.
Looking ahead, Bencic faces a challenging draw, with a potential quarterfinal clash against world No. 1 Elena Rybakina on the horizon. Her next opponent will be determined as the tournament progresses, but this win marks an important step forward as she continues to compete in Ningbo.