Switzerland's Bencic Loses in First Round of Qatar Total Energy Open

Doha, February 20 (QNA) - Belinda Bencic suffered an early defeat at the Qatar Total Energy Open Tennis Championship, organized by the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation on the courts of the Khalifa International Complex, until Feb. 26. Belinda, ranked 153 in the world, lost to Danish Clara Towson, (6-4, 3-6, 6-3) in the first-round matches. World number 33 Towson set a date on Tuesday in the second round with Spain's Paula Badosa, ranked fifth in the world and third in the tournament. Bencic was able to win the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2021, after defeating the Czech Marketa Vondrosova in the final (7-5, 2-6, 6-3). (QNA)