Veteran Jankovic defeats teen Bencic in Dubai

AFP: Belinda Bencic suffered a losing start a day after reaching the WTA top 10 for the first time as the teenager fell 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to veteran Jelena Jankovic at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday (Feb 16).

Swiss Bencic, 18, was playing for the first time as a member of the elite after achieving the number nine ranking with last weekend’s St Petersburg final.

But former number one Jankovic proved to be a tough customer, who levelled at a set each following an undisclosed change of tactics and left Bencic momentarily sobbing on her chair. Jankovic will face German Andrea Petkovic in the second round. The Serb, who was runner-up 11 years ago in her Dubai debut, has also played four semi-finals.