Bencic vs Zakharova Prediction 3 October 2026
🔊 A meeting of experience and ambition on the Beijing courts gives us a fine match to break down. Swiss player Belinda Bencic enters the tournament at the second round, while Russian player Anastasia Zakharova has already had the chance to settle into the local hard courts and find her rhythm. For Zakharova, this is a good opportunity to test herself against a top player; for Bencic, it means having to be at her best from the very first match.
Head-to-Head
📊 Belinda Bencic and Anastasia Zakharova have no previous meetings on record.
Belinda Bencic Player Overview
Belinda sits 12th in the rankings but has lacked consistency of late. Her North American hard-court swing ended poorly - a loss to Gauff in Toronto was followed by an unnecessary first-round defeat to Putintseva at the US Open. She arrives in China short of match rhythm. Her class and powerful serve make her the favourite, but a first match at a major tournament after a month away is always something of a lottery, with problems in timing and clean ball-striking almost inevitable early on.
Match Results: Belinda Bencic
Anastasia Zakharova Player Overview
Anastasia is currently on the verge of the top 100 and clearly intends to break through that barrier during the Asian swing. Looking at her recent results at the bigger tournaments, the issue has not been poor form but a tough draw: at the US Open she faced a gruelling match against Osaka, and in Seoul she ran straight into Ostapenko. In Beijing, though, she finally got a favourable opener - she swept local player Yushan Shao off the court in 59 minutes, dropping just two games. That kind of one-sided win is an ideal scenario: she got a feel for the court and used virtually no energy. She will go into the match against Bencic as fresh and relaxed as possible.
Match Results: Anastasia Zakharova
Key factors
- Anastasia Zakharova made a confident start to the tournament, beating her opponent convincingly.
- Belinda Bencic has not played in any official tournaments for a month.
- Anastasia Zakharova has already had time to settle into the local courts, while Belinda Bencic has not.
Expected scenario
This is unlikely to be a straightforward match for Belinda Bencic. Anastasia Zakharova is in good form after a convincing first-round win, carries no particular pressure, and has already found her feet on the surface. Bencic is the superior player in terms of class, serve and reading of the game, but first matches back at 1000-level events after a break rarely come easily for favourites. The match will probably be a grinding affair, with Zakharova able to make it competitive in individual sets by taking advantage of the unforced errors Bencic is likely to make early on.
⭐ Editor's Pick
Anastasia has already settled into Beijing, won her first-round match comfortably and found a good rhythm, while for Belinda this is her first match after a month away from the tour. The Swiss player will almost certainly start slowly and take time to find her game, which should allow Zakharova to get a foothold in the rallies from the baseline early on. On top of that, Anastasia handles extended rallies well, and covering a handicap of 5-6 games on a fast hard court is quite realistic, even if Bencic ultimately wins on quality. The pick is Anastasia Zakharova to Win - Games Handicap +5.5.
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Betting Tips: Belinda Bencic - Anastasia Zakharova
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