Belinda Bencic Faces Sara Bejlek in Dubai Round 2

Bencic advances to Dubai round

Belinda Bencic defeats Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, setting up a clash with Sara Bejlek in the Dubai Tennis Championships.

“Yes, I really do (enjoy playing here). I enjoy playing more at night. The ball doesn’t fly as much as in the day...”

Emma Raducanu's Dubai Tennis Championships campaign ended in the first round with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 loss to lucky loser Antonia Ruzic. Raducanu, who retired in Doha's opening round a week ago, took a medical timeout after losing the first set but fought back to level the match. Despite leading 2-0 in the decider, Ruzic turned the game around, winning six straight games to take the contest.

Belinda Bencic is advancing to the next round in Dubai. She came back from a slow start to beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 at the WTA 1000 event. Next up, she's facing Sara Bejlek, the recent Abu Dhabi champion.

Round 2 secured 💪

Belinda Bencic defeats Bouzas Maneiro in 3 sets to make it through in Dubai.
#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/4UXai3J6h3

— wta (@WTA) February 16, 2026

Amanda Anisimova got a walkover into the next round, thanks to Barbora Krejcikova's injury withdrawal. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu faced a surprise exit, losing to lucky loser Antonia Ruzic 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

Belinda Bencic reading it to perfection 📖#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/RoDAsKD2SC

— wta (@WTA) February 16, 2026

“Yes, I really do (enjoy playing here). I enjoy playing more at night. The ball doesn’t fly as much as in the day. The conditions are so different in the day and in the night,” she said after her win.

“The year that I won, I played every match during the night session. That’s why it’s my lucky charm. If the tournament director is listening, please let me play at night!”

Winning Streaks Continue

Anna Kalinskaya came from a set down to beat Jelena Ostapenko 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, while Paula Badosa edged Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 7-5 in Dubai. Kalinskaya's next up is Coco Gauff.

Amanda Anisimova gets a walkover into the next round after Barbora Krejcikova's withdrawal, and now faces Janice Tjen, who's on a roll after beating Leylah Fernandez 7-6(5), 6-4.

Iva Jovic, 18, is through to the next round after beating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, and will face Diana Shnaider. Emma Navarro also won a tough one, 6-4, 7-5 against Elena Gabriela Ruse.

Jaqueline Cristian, Sorana Cirstea, Daria Kasatkina, and Clara Tauson all progressed with straight-set wins.