Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, who had a tough time to continue her winning momentum since the marquee event, has been looking to earn more points and stay in contention for the WTA Finals in Guadalajara.
Bencic, who lost to Emma Raducanu in the US Open quarter-finals, had also faced exits at the last eight stage in events post New York(Ostrava Open, Luxembourg Open, and Chicago Fall Tennis classic).
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Belinda Bencic withdraws from Indian Wells 2021 following knee injury
With the last big WTA 1000 of the year at Indian Wells, the Swiss star was expected to bounce back and regain the lost momentum. Unfortunately, Bencic announced a last minute withdrawal from the tournament.
Belinda Bencic has withdrawn due to knee injury. Kristina Kucova takes her spot as a lucky loser. #BNPPO21
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 8, 2021
The Swiss tennis player was due to play the American Shelby Rogers in the second-round of the BNP Paribas Open. Owing to her sudden withdrawal, lucky loser Kristina Kucova will take her spot and play Shelby Rogers in the second round.
It has been a mixed year in terms of results for Belinda Bencic as she fails to make it past the quarter-finals at any of the four slam events.
Bencic had mixed results this year with Tokyo Olypmics gold medal being a significant moment
Apart from the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, the Swiss star managed to reach the finals at Adelaide International earlier this year. Bencic lost to Iga Swiatek in the final.
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Even though the race to Guadalajara appeared almost impossible for the Swiss to crack, the Indian Wells withdrawal might just confirm her exclusion from the year-end event. Also, Bencic reached the finals of the grass court championships in Berlin, where she lost to Ludmilla Samsonova in three sets.
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Despite putting in decent performances, the Swiss star might have to finish the 2021 season without a WTA title but the Olympics gold medal might thrust her forward to more success in the 2022 WTA season.