Polona Hercog (Slo) vs. Belinda Bencic (Sui) – Score prediction (15.10.2019)

Preview and players comparison.

The pair’s only previous meeting came in the qualifyings of Rome in 2014. Then a 17-year-old ranked no. 96, Bencic needed three sets to dismiss Hercog from a set deficit, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. She should be able to repeat the result. However, the pressure of being eliminated from Shenzhen will play its role.

Belinda Bencic bids her first quarterfinal since the US Open. Last month, the Swiss upset defending champion Osaka at Flushing Meadows to enter a major semifinal for the first time. She has, however, suffered opening-round losses in two of her next three outings, Wuhan (l. Kudermetova) and Linz (l. Friedsam). These two losses are particularly unhelpful for Bencic, given she is battling with Kiki Bertens this week to occupy the last remaining spot for the WTA Finals. It would be her first appearance at the year-end championships. She is embarking on her second campaign at Moscow; previously lost 2016 opener to Kasatkina.

Polona Hercog recovered from a 50-minute first-round beating from Donna Vekic at Linz, easily overcoming Katerina Siniakova, 6-4, 6-2, in 76 minutes to kickstart her Moscow run. The 28-year-old fended off 6/7 breakpoints to extend the Czech’s woes and collect her 19th tour-level main draw win of the season. Hercog is looking to finish a season inside the top 50 for the third time in her career, first since 2010-11. She also seeks her second-ever quarterfinal appearance at a Premier-level event, following Charleston in 2012. At that American green-clay event, the Slovenian recorded her only top 10 win (1-28), against Bartoli.

Match Info.

Competition: WTA – SINGLES: Moscow (Russia), hard (indoor) – 1/8-finals.
Start: 16.10.2019, 8:00 UTC.