Jelena Ostapenko vs Belinda Bencic Preview & Prediction | 2026 Ningbo Open | First Round

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Jelena Ostapenko meets Belinda Bencic in the 2026 Ningbo Open at the Yinzhou Tennis Center in Ningbo, China.

Ranking points: WTA 500

Start date/time: 20 October 2026 at 4:00 am

Venue: Yinzhou Tennis Center, Ningbo, China

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Juss Sports app

Jelena Ostapenko vs Belinda Bencic prediction

Belinda Bencic and Jelena Ostapenko meet for the fourth chapter in their rivalry in Ningbo.

The Swiss leads the head-to-head 2-1 and has won the last two, including a 6-3 7-6 win at the 2025 Australian Open.

However, the fifth seed Bencic has not had much joy since a quarter-final push in Toronto back in August.

Ostapenko arrives here having reached the last four in Wuhan, but remains a very streaky player and her form prior to that was patchy.

If Bencic can stay consistent and stand tall on the defence, she should be solid enough to come good. It may be in three but with her blueprint for previous victories sure to be dusted off, she'll feel she knows the pathway to success in the match-up.

Jelena Ostapenko vs Belinda Bencic tip: Belinda Bencic to win