Bencic regaining her form

NEW HAVEN — Like athletes in any other sport, tennis players on the WTA tour experience injuries.

But WTA Belinda Bencic, who has produced some impressive wins against some superstars in the sport, has taken the injury bug to another level with injuries the past three years. A back injury sidelined her for two months in 2016, she missed five months in 2017 due to wrist surgery and in April she needed almost two months of rest to recover from a foot injury.

Bencic said she still is trying to regain her top form, but her game looked pretty good in the second round of qualifying at the Connecticut Open Tennis tournament with a comeback win on Saturday. After losing the first set 7-6 to 16-year-old Whitney Osuigwe, Bencic rebounded to win the last two sets 6-2, 6-2.

“We all follow the juniors and I know she is the No. 1 junior,” Bencic said. “I fought hard today, but I am still trying to find my form. I think it wasn’t until the second set I really felt like my form arrived for the match.

“Physically, I am feeling good now.”

Bencic said the main problem with having the injuries is struggling to regain her form.

“It’s hard,” Bencic said. “Tennis is so much better and faster now, even better and faster than it was three years ago. With injuries, you are out and you practice, but you are always still trying to catch up to the other players whose form is improving because they are playing in tournaments.

“When you are injured and recovering, all the players are opening their game and you are still trying find your form.”

Bencic was ecstatic with her victory and showed her emotion when she won her match point and yelled, “Yeah.”

“I’m happy with my two wins in qualifying,” Bencic said. “It’s a grind, but my form is improving.”

UNDER THE WEATHER

The rain held off for most of Saturday’s matches. However, Mother Nature imposed her will on the last two matches of the afternoon as rain and distant thunder forced play to be suspended at 5:20 p.m.

The lone American left in the qualifying draw, Sofia Kenin, led Rebecca Peterson of Sweden, 6-5 in the first set.

Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia led Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, 6-3, 4-2, 15-all in their suspended match.

The two suspended matches will resume at 11 a.m. Sunday to kick off the day’s schedule.

WITHDRAW

Ashleigh Barty of Australia withdrew from the main draw late Saturday due to a viral illness.

Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media Belinda Bencic returns a volley against Whitney Osuigwe in a qualifying match at the Connecticut Open at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale in New Haven on Saturday.