Women’s Olympic Tennis First Round – Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula taking place? Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula will take place on Saturday 24th July, 2021 at (not before) 06:00 (UK)
Where is Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula taking place? Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula will take place at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo
What surface is Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula played on? Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula will be played on hard courts
Where can I get tickets for Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula? There are no tickets for Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula as Olympic Tennis will take place without spectators.
What TV channel is Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula on in the UK? Olympic coverage is shared between BBC and Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedules for Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula
Where can I stream Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula in the UK? If Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula is televised on BBC then it can be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. If Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula is televised on Eurosport then subscribers can stream the match live on Eurosport Player
THE PREDICTION
This looks like a brilliant first round match between two players inside the top 30 and one of world number 12 Belinda Bencic and number 27 Jessica Pegula will be a big early casualty come the end of it. Former world number four Bencic is only 24 years old but there is a sense that she is struggling to keep pace with the top 10 as the WTA’s strength in depth continues to increase. She has not won a Singles title since 2019 and lost the last two finals she has played, including the German Open last month. 27-year-old Pegula is the less experienced at the top of the game but she was consistently in the last eight and four of tournaments earlier this year, including at the Australian Open where she beat the likes of Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina.
Bencic was the winner way back in 2015 when they met on her favoured grass but Pegula’s form has only really exploded over the last 18 months and the American should be able to avenge that on a hard court. Bencic’s recent form has been found wanting and whilst Pegula has also struggled in recent months the Australian Open semi-finalist should be able to take at least a set here as the likeliest winner.
