Swiss star Belinda Bencic issued a powerful warning to her Australian Open rivals with a commanding 6-0, 7-5 first-round victory over Britain's Katie Boulter on Tuesday.
Dominant Display from the 10th Seed
Under the lights of Margaret Court Arena, the 10th-seeded Bencic produced a near-flawless opening set, overwhelming Boulter with relentless depth and precision. The former British number one's flat, aggressive ball-striking played directly into the hands of the Swiss, who used her impeccable timing and hand-eye coordination to deflect pace and control the rallies.
Bencic struck a mere three unforced errors in the first set, completely dominating extended exchanges and leaving Boulter with few answers. The 6-0 scoreline reflected Bencic's current formidable form, having started the 2026 season with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record.
Boulter's Brave Second-Set Rally Falls Short
To her credit, Katie Boulter refused to capitulate. She rediscovered her rhythm on serve early in the second set, using it to shorten points and finally impose her game. The Briton battled toe-to-toe with her higher-ranked opponent, even breaking back to establish a 5-4 lead and threaten to force a decider.
However, Bencic's confidence and quality shone through at the critical moment. Demonstrating the composure that has marked her recent resurgence, she raised her level on the decisive points, winning three consecutive games to seal a 7-5 set victory and book her place in the second round.
Contender Status and a Tough Draw for Boulter
This performance solidifies Bencic's status as a genuine title contender in Melbourne. Her remarkable comeback from maternity leave in 2025 saw her climb from world number 421 to number 11, a journey highlighted by a Wimbledon semi-final and two WTA 500 titles. Her early 2026 form, including key wins for Switzerland at the United Cup, has now propelled her back into the top ten.
For Boulter, currently ranked 113th in the world, the match highlighted the gap she must bridge to return to the top. After a career-high ranking of 23 in 2024, the past year has been challenging. This first-round encounter represented one of the toughest possible draws, pitting her against one of the tour's most in-form players.
The Briton's immediate task, alongside new coach Michael Joyce, will be to rebuild confidence and accumulate ranking points to avoid such formidable early-round opponents at future Grand Slams.
In other British news on Day 2, Sonay Kartal was also eliminated, falling to the 31st seed, Anna Kalinskaya, 7-6(3), 6-1.
