Rising Swiss Tennis Star Susan Bandecchi Pulls Off Shocking Parma Open Upset Ahead of Roland-Garros

Swiss qualifier Susan Bandecchi is suddenly on every tennis fan’s radar after surviving a string of gritty three-set battles to reach the final round of Roland-Garros qualifying, and the 27-year-old now sits one win away from booking her maiden main-draw spot in Paris. Bandecchi, currently No. 215 on the WTA computer and a former No. 164, upset hard-hitting Czech Dominika Salkova 3-6 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday, displaying the all-court variety that made her a junior standout and recent doubles title holder. The Swiss right-hander ripped 29 winners, won 71 % of her net approaches and converted five of eight break points to seal her first Top-200 victory of the clay season. What’s next
 • Final qualifying round vs. Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova – Friday, 22 May, 11:00 CEST (Court 7)
 • Live scores and point-by-point tracker available through the official Roland-Garros site and app.
 • Winner earns a coveted slot in Sunday’s main-draw ceremony. Why Bandecchi is trending
 1. Breakthrough run: Paris has historically been her toughest Slam – she had fallen in qualifying four straight years – but a revamped fitness program under new coach Alessandro Mencini is paying off with heavier topspin on the forehand wing and quicker court coverage.
 2. Swiss surge: With Belinda Bencic still sidelined and Jil Teichmann rebuilding from injury, Switzerland is searching for fresh Grand-Slam storylines. Bandecchi could become the first Swiss woman to qualify in Paris since Viktorija Golubic in 2021.
 3. Accessible time zone: European primetime slots and free live streams have amplified social-media chatter, pushing her name into trending sections across search platforms. Scouting report
 • Strengths: heavy kick serve out wide on the ad side; backhand drop-shot disguise; calm under scoreboard pressure (8–2 in deciding sets this spring).
 • Areas to watch: second-serve speed hovers around 130 km/h, leaving her vulnerable to aggressive returners; prone to over-pressing on high balls to the forehand.
 • Head-to-head: Bandecchi trails Hruncakova 0-1, falling on hard courts in 2023 qualifying at Linz. The Slovak owns a bigger serve, but Bandecchi’s clay-court craft levels the matchup. Fast facts
 • Birthplace: Lugano, Switzerland (Italian-speaking canton).
 • Plays: Right-handed; two-handed backhand.
 • 2026 prize money: €16 000.
 • Career clay record: 58–42 (ITF & WTA combined).
 • Favourite surface: Red clay – “because it rewards point construction,” she told Swiss TV last month.
 • Best WTA result: 2025 Palermo doubles champion (w/ Paar). How to watch
 Qualifying streams are free worldwide on Roland-Garros.com; select betting partners also carry HD feeds. Fans in Switzerland can tune in via SRF’s online player, while Tennis Channel Plus has coverage in North America. SEO checklist
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