Belinda Bencic delivered a standout all-around performance on Sunday at the United Cup in Perth, where she led Switzerland past Italy and into the quarter-finals.
The 28-year-old first put Switzerland in control with a composed singles victory over World No. 3 Jasmine Paolini, before returning to the court later in the day to help decide the tie in mixed doubles. After Flavio Cobolli levelled the contest with a dramatic deciding-set tie-break win over Stan Wawrinka, Bencic teamed with Jakub Paul to defeat three-time major champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.
Rising to the occasion 📈🇨🇭@BelindaBencic and Jakub Paul def. Errani/Vavassori 7-5 4-6 [10-7] to seal the first quarterfinal spot. pic.twitter.com/xp1wz7iPgj
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2026
“Without this guy, I cannot play,” Bencic said of Paul, who she has paired with to win both mixed doubles rubbers in Perth. “It’s been great vibes, great emotion from the team, we are all really into it with our heart.”
The result secured Switzerland top spot in Group C with a perfect 2-0 record and sent them into the United Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the tournament’s history. Playing captain Wawrinka, who has spent six hours on court across his two matches, is competing in his final season on the ATP Tour.
Cobolli, the No. 22 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, had earlier produced a clutch performance to outlast Wawrinka in a gripping 2-hour, 50-minute battle. The pair thrilled the RAC Arena crowd deep into the deciding set, with Cobolli producing the shot of the match — a full-stretch forehand winner on the run — to earn a crucial mini-break in the final-set tie-break and improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Earlier in the tie, Bencic laid the foundation with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Paolini in 1 hour, 53 minutes.
“I’m really happy with today’s match,” Bencic said on-court after the one hour and 53 minute match. “I lost to her really close at the end of last season. I really had to organize my mind that ‘now it’s my time, I can do it.’ I thought it was a bit mental today.”
Bencic improved to 2-0 in singles after also defeating Leolia Jeanjean on Saturday. Paolini will next face Jeanjean when Italy meets France in its upcoming tie.
