Belinda Bencic booked a spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open with a superb 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Kateryna Bondarenko \u00a0on Friday. It was a historic victory for Bencic who became the first Swiss woman to advance to the final 16 here in Melbourne since Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder accomplished that feat back in 2007.<\/p>\n
This is also the first time in Bencic\u2019s career that she has reached this stage of the Australian Open. She will face her toughest test, though, in the round of 16, as she will next face the great Maria Sharapova. The Russian star just earned her 600th<\/sup> career victory with her fantastic win over Lauren Davis in the third round.<\/p>\nFor Bencic to record a major shock this coming weekend, the 18-year-old needs to dominate Sharapova with her service game. Bencic\u2019s serve was solid against Bondarenko as she converted 68 percent of her first serves. Bencic took full advantage of that fact, winning 39 of her 53 first serve points for a remarkable 74 percent clip.<\/p>\n
Apart from putting her first serves in play, Bencic also needs to limit her miscues if she is to upset the mighty Sharapova. She committed a whopping 29 unforced errors in the three-set win against Bondarenko. That simply won\u2019t do against a world-class player like Sharapova who is gunning for her sixth Grand Slam title here in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Bencic is 7-3 in her last 10 matches.<\/b><\/p>\nWriter\u2019s Prediction<\/h3>\n
Sharapova beats Bencic in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.<\/p>\n[sc:AUS15-620 ]\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/i> 2,375 total views, 2 views today<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former champion Maria Sharapova survived a major scare on Friday, edging past talented youngster Lauren Davis to advance to the fourth round of the 2016 Australian Open. There she will<\/p>\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/i> 2,375 total views, 2 views today<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":92197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[393,69],"tags":[8286,8507,8508,8509,2616,8287,8663,1748,8664,8665,1500,2293,2617,8289,8626,8627],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Maria](\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Belinda+Bencic+2016+Australian+Open+Day+5+7D74W_5-qx-l.jpg\" "\\"Maria-Sharapova-vs-Belinda-Bencic-Preview\u20132016-Australian-Open\\"")
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