Eastbourne, United Kingdom: Defending champion Belinda Bencic missed out on training time yesterday despite rain letting up at the Eastbourne International as organisers failed to cover any of the training courts. The overnight and morning rain which soaked Devonshire Park did little to help the courts, left to the elements on a chilly day of 15 Celsius temperatures.
“I was hoping for today but doesn’t look good,” said Swiss Bencic, who won the title a year ago over Agnieszka Radwanska. “When they don’t cover the courts, we have no chance to practise. I guess it’s the same for everyone, but still it’s a little bit of a disadvantage.”
Local officials had no immediate explanation as to why practise courts were left uncovered while match courts were protected at the public park. The 19-year-old Bencic, ranked eighth, is keen to get stuck into her final week before the June 27 start of Wimbledon after slightly injuring her leg in a slipping fall last week in Birmingham which forced her to retire in the first round.
Bencic is currently playing only her third event after missing the clay season with back problems.
She reached the semi-finals on grass in the Netherlands earlier this month. “Everyone has injuries at some point of their career, so I’m not the first person to get an injury. Obviously the other girls have also had a little something. This (the back) was my first or second serious injury, I just take it as a part of the job. It’s nothing special.”
The third seed was waiting for a second-round opponent after a bye as Heather Watson faced 2013 Elena Vesnina. Bencic expresses no worries as she returns to full-time tennis with Wimbledon bearing down.
“Why would I feel pressure? Of course it’s ranking points, but every week someone is defending points somewhere. It’s just a normal situation. I don’t feel any pressure and have no expectations because I haven’t played a lot of matches lately. I’m just trying to get the matches in and just keep going. I’m so glad to be back on the courts, so that’s the most important.”
Top seed Radwanska is also looking for training time amid the weather chaos. The Pole who won the title on the south coast eight years ago, said that she has barely had time for any outdoor practise but is counting on better weather forecast for much of the week.
“It’s only one day like this. A couple of times I just finished five minutes before the rain. I’m hoping it will be much better than the last week.” Due to the weather, officials rearranged the day’s programme, limiting their hopes to six first-round matches.