Belinda Bencic defeated Magda Linette 6–3, 6–2 in the first round of the WTA 250 event at Ningbo on hard court. The Swiss player, installed as the clear favourite at 1.24 odds, justified her pre-match status with a dominant performance that allowed Linette little opportunity to establish rhythm. Bencic's superior court positioning and consistency proved decisive across both sets, as the Polish opponent struggled to find answers to the Swiss player's controlled aggression. The comprehensive nature of the victory—surrendering just five games across two sets—underscores Bencic's current form heading deeper into the tournament, while Linette's early exit represents a disappointing result from which she will need to recover swiftly.