Last Friday, the WTCC – a mixed team event quite similar to the Laver Cup – started its first edition in Shenzhen.
🎾 WTCC Christmas Gala in Shenzhen
🎄The first World Tennis Continental Cup held its Christmas gala.
✨World Team: Elena Rybakina, Wang Xinyu, Andrey Rublev and Zhang Zhizhen.
✨European team: Iga Swiatek, Belinda Bencic, Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Vassero.#tennis pic.twitter.com/QwANsQ4ZEt
— CGTN Sports Scene (@CGTNSportsScene) December 26, 2025
In the opening match of the event, Bencic – the Tokyo Olympian and world number 11 – made a slow start against China’s Wang, but managed to overturn the deficit and give her side an early lead over the World Team.
For the Swiss tennis star, this was her first match since she gave a walkover to Cristina Bucsa in the Hong Kong quarter-finals on October 31.
Somewhat interestingly, this was the second meeting between Bencic and Wang, and the second in an exhibition tournament. Previously, the Swiss former world number 4 defeated the 57th-ranked Chinese at the 2018 Kooyong Classic.
After Bencic and Wang, a real showdown will follow in the WTCC
The second match of the event will pit two Grand Slam champions against each other: Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
Belinda Bencic defeated Xinyu Wang 4-6, 6-2, 10-5 to win seven games in a row.
Now it’s time for the clash between Iga Świątek and Elena Rybakina 🍿
📸 CHANNEL+ SPORTS 2 | #WTCC | #tennistime pic.twitter.com/2rU1OEPS8d
— From the court – tennis information (@z_kortu) December 26, 2025
Needless to say, the match between Swiatek and Rybakina is one of the most intriguing in the women’s game. The Pole represents the European team, while the Kazakh plays for the World team.
#WTCC #Belinda #Bencic #wins #comeback #opening #match