Yulia Putintseva beats Belinda Bencic after controversial ball strike at US Open

Yulia Putintseva defeated Belinda Bencic 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the 2026 US Open. The match included a heated exchange after Bencic hit a ball into the stands in frustration during the second set. The ball struck a spectator, leading Putintseva to demand a default, citing a similar incident involving Novak Djokovic at the 2020 US Open. The chair umpire issued a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct to Bencic but declined to default her, stating the act was unintentional and the spectator remained uninjured. Following the incident, Putintseva rallied to overcome a set deficit and advance in the tournament. Bencic, the number 12 seed, becomes the highest-ranked player eliminated from the women's draw thus far. Putintseva now moves on to face Zheng Qinwen in the second round.

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