Belinda Bencic and Anna Kalinskaya will square off in the third round of the Italian Open. Both players will be determined to make their mark in Rome after a slow start to the clay-court swing by their high standards. Bencic cruised to victory against Bianca Andreescu in the last round, while Kalinskaya defeated Kateřina Siniaková in a hard-fought match that went down to the wire.
Belinda Bencic vs Anna Kalinskaya Match Details
Date: May 9, 2026
Tournament: Italian Open 2026
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Category: WTA 1000
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, TSN
Bencic vs Kalinskaya Head-to-Head Record
Bencic has had the upper hand over Kalinskaya in their previous meetings, winning all four of their WTA Tour matches. This will be their first meeting on clay.
Kalinskaya holds a 12-9 win-loss record in 2026, with quarterfinal runs in Charleston and Doha being her best results. The Russian suffered an early exit in Madrid and had to do it the hard way to defeat Siniaková in the second round in Rome. She saved a whopping nine match points before claiming a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 win.
Bencic enjoyed a much more comfortable start to the Italian Open as she claimed a 6-4, 6-1 win over Andreescu. The Swiss star also made the fourth round in Madrid and the quarterfinals in Charleston and will hope to perform better in Rome.
Five of her six losses this year have come in three sets, showcasing just how hard the world No. 12 is to defeat.
Bencic vs Kalinskaya Prediction and Pick
Bencic’s overall form and head-to-head record against Kalinskaya make her the favorite going into this third-round match. The 29-year-old is also a strong performer on clay and has made two WTA Tour finals on the red dirt.
Kalinskaya is a strong baseliner, and her sharp forehand makes her a threat on any surface. But she is more comfortable on the faster-paced hard courts and has yet to make a clay-court final on the WTA Tour.
Bencic plays with great tenacity and has a potent open-stance forehand. She also reads the game well and has the mental patience to be successful on clay. While she hasn’t had the results she would have liked this year, Bencic remains one of the most competitive players on the tour. And she will fancy her chances of overcoming Kalinskaya in this third-round matchup.
We are backing Bencic to continue her head-to-head dominance against Kalinskaya and claim a straight-sets win on Saturday.
Pick – Bencic in straight sets.
