Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Belinda Bencic said Tuesday she felt “a little bit wobbly” in her first match after Covid, warming up for the Australian Open with a low-key win.
The 24-year-old Swiss cruised into the second round of the Sydney Tennis Classic with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia.
But Bencic, who contracted the virus in mid-December after competing at an Abu Dhabi exhibi-tion, admitted she had not been at her best, with the first Grand Slam of the year starting on Monday.
“I was struggling a little bit, getting to practice after Covid because the pulse was getting up and the fatigue was still there,” said Bencic, a former world number four but now ranked 23rd.
“I think I still have room to feel better and my fitness has to get better.“I still feel a little bit wob-bly and so I think there is still potential, but I’m happy that I can play this tournament.” She will now take on Oceane Dodin of France in the next round.—APP
