Belinda Bencic and Leonie Kung were meant to play the fourth round of the Women’s Interclub Championship in Chiasso, but eventually the world no.8 refused to share the court.
Leonie was just back from Palermo where she lost in the qualifications 4-6 6-2 6-1 to Tereza Martincova. In Palermo, there was a player that tested positive, but she was isolated for the whole time. Kung tested negative and she had the clearance to compete in Switzerland. However, Belinda refused to play. Kung’s team decided to withdraw in protest to announced the appeal.
Leonie’s mother wasn’t thrilled by Belinda. As reported by Blick, she commented:
“This is total arbitrariness. Since then she has been in quarantine at the hotel and has always been shuttled to the tennis courts and the airport. She was always wearing a mask.”
Belinda Bencic withdrawing from Prague
Belinda seems to be quite adverse in playing in these conditions as the Swiss ace has just withdrawn from Prague
“I regret not participating in the tournament. I wish the organizers to be able to organize a successful event,” she said.
Belinda Bencic in 2020
Ranked no.8, Belinda played her last match on the 27th of February when she lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-4 in the quarter in Doha.
Leonie Kung in 2020
Now ranked no.155 (career-high), the Swiss played her last match on the 1st of August when she capitulated to Tereza Martincova 4-6 6-2 6-1 in the qualifications in Palermo.
Leonie Kung’s best result of this season was getting to the final in Hua Hin.
Belinda Bencic and Leonie Kung played each other once. The head to head is 1-0 for Bencic. When they played, Belinda Bencic won 6-2 6-2 in the qualifications in Luxembourg (BGL Luxembourg Open) in October 2018.