Fifth-seeded Belinda Bencic will face former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the semifinals of the 2025 Toray Pan Pacific Open on Saturday, October 25. Around this time last year, Bencic was ranked well outside the top 1000 WTA Rankings after having been on maternity leave. Not to be deterred, the former World No. 4 launched a comeback to the top rungs of the women’s pro tour this year in fine fashion.
The highlights of her 2025 season include winning her ninth career singles title in Abu Dhabi and reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon. Due to her recent excellent results, she has once again secured a place in the top 20 rankings. This week, the 28-year-old won her first-ever match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open by beating France’s Varvara Gracheva 6-4, 6-3 after a first-round Bye.
Sofia Kenin vs. Belinda Bencic Match Details
Date: Oct. 25, 2025
Tournament: Toray Pan Pacific Open
Round: Semifinals
Venue: Tokyo, Japan
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports
She then came from a set down in the quarterfinals on Friday, October 24, overcoming eighth-seeded Karolina Muchova 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 to make it to the last four in Tokyo. Sofia Kenin, meanwhile, hasn’t enjoyed as much success as Belinda Bencic in 2025 if her 28-24 win/loss record before this week is any indication. The American has made amends for her middling form with a gutsy campaign at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, though.
After convincingly beating Japanese wildcard Moyuka Uchijima 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament, the World No. 25 reversed a set deficit against another local favorite, Sonobe Wakana, to get through 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(2).
The 26-year-old then staved off four match points in the third set of her quarterfinal clash with third-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, needing more than two hours to secure a 6-0, 2-6, 7-6(3) victory. The former World No. 4 will be eager to emulate her result in Tokyo from last year, which saw her reach the final against all odds as a wildcard.
Kenin vs. Bencic Head-to-Head
Sofia Kenin holds a 2-0 edge over Belinda Bencic in their head-to-head meetings on the WTA Tour. The American saved three championship points to beat the Swiss 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 6-4 in the 2019 Mallorca Open in their first-ever encounter. Earlier in April, she scored the second victory in their rivalry at the Charleston Open, winning 6-0, 6-3 in just under one and a half hours.
Kenin vs. Bencic Prediction
Belinda Bencic has been underwhelming on her serve at this year’s Toray Pan Pacific Open, winning a measly 61.6% of her first-serve points in her two matches so far. However, the World No. 13 has been getting underneath the ball well enough, as the hardcourts in Tokyo suit her quick-strike playing style quite well.
Sofia Kenin has done considerably better in her service games, winning nearly 70% (120/172) of her first-serve points in her three matches this week. During her latest win, the unseeded American played with great conviction on crucial points.
While she will be hopeful of bringing the same mojo to her semifinal match, the pressure might end up being too much for the 2020 Australian Open titlist against her more experienced opponent.
Prediction: Belinda Bencic to win in three sets.
