Can Belinda Bencic Finally Conquer Tokyo After a Decade-Long Wait?

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Played under the roof at the Ariake Coliseum thanks to some classic Tokyo rain, the first set was a tense standoff. Both Bencic and Kenin were locked in, holding their serves like their lives depended on it. It all came down to a nail-biting tiebreak where Bencic managed to find an extra gear, sealing the set with a blistering forehand winner. The crowd roared, and for a moment, it looked like she might cruise.

But of course, it’s never that simple. Kenin, a former Australian Open champ, wasn’t just going to roll over. She came out in the second set like a woman on a mission, breaking Bencic early and leveling the match. It was a classic momentum shift that left fans wondering if Bencic had anything left in the tank.

As the third set began, you could feel the tension. This was it—the decider. Bencic, who snagged Olympic gold in this very city, seemed to channel some of that champion energy. She broke Kenin to take a 3-1 lead and never looked back, riding that wave of momentum all the way to victory.

“I’m really exhausted at this point,” she admitted afterward. “I tried to shorten the points, take more risks and tried to go for it. Thankfully today it went my way.” You have to respect that honesty. It wasn’t some grand, flawless strategy. It was a tired athlete digging deep and just going for it.

What Awaits Bencic in the Final?

So, what’s next for our battle-hardened hero? A finals clash with Linda Noskova, who, in a strange twist of fate, advanced via a walkover. Her opponent, Elena Rybakina, had to pull out due to a back injury. It’s a bit of an anticlimactic way to reach a final, but Noskova will be fresh and ready to go, which could be a huge advantage against an exhausted Bencic.

For Bencic, this final is more than just another match. It’s a chance to rewrite history and prove she’s still a force to be reckoned with, especially after returning from maternity leave just this year. She already has one title under her belt from Abu Dhabi, but winning in Tokyo would be the cherry on top.

“Sometimes your mind convinces you to keep going and your body says, ‘I don’t want to’, but you can find a way if you have to and you have the will to go through,” Bencic reflected. “Hopefully I can do that one more time.”

We’ll all be watching to see if she can. Can Belinda Bencic summon that will one last time and finally claim the Tokyo title that has eluded her for a decade? If her semi-final performance is any indication, you’d be a fool to bet against her.