Thu Feb 06 08:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Bencic Dominates in Abu Dhabi Comeback, Books Quarterfinal Spot
**Abu Dhabi, UAE –** Belinda Bencic continued her stunning return to the WTA Tour, delivering a breathtaking 6-0, 6-0 victory over Veronika Kudermetova in the Abu Dhabi Open. The Swiss star, who welcomed her first daughter just last April, needed only an hour and five minutes to dispatch the former world No. 9, securing her place in the quarterfinals.
The win marks Bencic’s first ever double bagel (6-0, 6-0) on the main tour and the first of the 2025 WTA season. Her dominant performance, in which she won 27 of 38 points, left fellow WTA player Donna Vekic speechless. “I’m sorry, what?” Vekic responded to a video of the match point on social media.
Bencic, currently ranked world No. 157, received a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 event after a year-long break from competition. While her opening match required three sets, her performance against Kudermetova showcased a return to peak form. This victory comes after a strategic decision to play lower-level events to regain match fitness before her WTA comeback.
The 27-year-old Olympic champion revealed that her participation in the United Cup played a key role in her decision to return so quickly. She had previously considered delaying her return to the tour, but her strong performance in Australia, which included a second-week run at the Australian Open before losing to Coco Gauff, further solidified her comeback. In the quarterfinals, Bencic will face either Yulia Putintseva or Marketa Vondrousova.
First Piper 