Daria Kasatkina won 10 of the final 11 games to beat Belinda Bencic 6-4 6-1 in just 61 minutes at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow at a Premier-level tournament in a match between two of the most promising rising stars of the WTA circuit. Bencic won their previous head-to-head match in St. Petersburg but has been hampered by injury problems since then.
Kasatina was broken only once and dropped just 14 points in nine service games. The young Russian player won more than 50 percent of the return points and converted on four of her eight break point chances.
Bencic got the first break in the fifth game and backed it up in the next game after the longest game of the match. The Swiss player fended off two break points to take a 4-2 lead. Kasatkina fought back by reeling off four consecutive games to clinch the first set 6-4 after winning 12 of the last 16 points.
Kasatkina got a double break and held four service games to cruise through to a 6-1 win in the second set.
“It was a great match, especially in front of the home fans here. Belinda is a tough opponent, a former top-10 player, so it’s nice to get the victory and start the week here in Moscow playing well”, said Kasatkina.
Timea Babos edged past Irina Camelia Begu 6-2 6-7 7-5 in just under two hours and a half. Babos broke serve Begu twice to wrap up the first set 6-2. Both players traded breaks twice in the second set to set up a tie-break where Begu got five mini-breaks to cruise to 7-2.
Babos went up a break twice but dropped her serve both times in the next game. The Hungarian player broke at love in the 11th game and convert her fourth match point on her service game.
“I started off really well but let my game slip. I am glad I could find my rhythm and close out the win. I have played a few junior events in Moscow, so winning today means I am unbeaten in Moscow”, said Babos
