MELBOURNE, Australia — Belinda Bencic has become the first player to advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Kateryna Bondarenko in the opening match Friday on Rod Laver Arena.
With the roof closed and play on outdoor courts delayed because of to steady rain, the 12th-seeded Bencic overcame a slow start to dominate the final two sets of the 1 hour, 50-minute match.
Bencic, the first Swiss woman to advance to the final 16 here since Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder in 2007, will play either fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova or American Lauren Davis in the next round.
Tournament officials said play would not be possible on outdoor courts until at least 2:30 p.m., and the rain was still falling at Melbourne Park.
Bencic beats Bondarenka to reach 4th round
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland serves to Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. | AP Photo/Aaron Favila