Finally, Bencic broke through to claim the decisive lead with a break to love at 4-2, backing it up with a love hold to extend her lead to 5-2. The wind seemed to leave the Russian player’s sails just then, and Bencic served another love game to close out the match after two hours and nine minutes – just 10 minutes shy of midnight.  

“In the third set, I finally started serving better and I started feeling more confident,” Bencic said. “I said to myself, I have to go for my shots. I have to be brave, and if I lose like that, then okay. But I have to take it in my own hands.”

Today’s win is the 23rd victory of 2019 for the rising Bencic, and it puts her in joint-second place for most WTA victories, behind Petra Kvitova’s 25 wins.

Into the third round, Bencic awaits the winner between Kateryna Kozlova and No.5 seed Karolina Pliskova, who are set to take the court tomorrow.