WTA Dubai: Inspired Belinda Bencic downs Simona Halep! Elina Svitolina wins
A former world no. 7 Belinda Bencic will play in the second semi-final of the season after a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over the 3rd seed Simona Halep, playing against each other for the first time in three and a half years. Despite a great display in the deciding set, Belinda won just two points more than Simona as they pushed each other to the limits all the time, with some poor numbers behind the initial shot and 24 break points up for grabs. Simona hit eight aces but also 13 double faults, leading 6-4, 4-3 before she lost nine of the last 11 games of the match to send Bencic into the semis.
Just a day after surviving those six match points against Aryna Sabalenka, Belinda gave her 120% on the court and she was the dominant figure on the court, going for winners but also making a lot of mistakes against the rival who defended well from the back of the court and forcing the Swiss always to play one extra shot. In the end, Bencic grabbed the second set and saved more energy for the decider where she broke Simona thrice to march into the semi-final. Halep broke at love in game eight of the opening set to open a 5-3 gap, needing another break at 5-4 to close the set when Bencic netted a forehand.
They traded breaks at the start of the second set and the Swiss stayed in touch after repelling a break point in games four and six, staying in touch and earning a break at 4-4 when Halep sent a backhand long. Serving for the set in the following game, Bencic hit a service winner to secure this part of the match and gain the momentum before the decider where she grabbed three breaks to leave Halep behind, saving three break points in game eight to celebrate a huge win and reach the semis.
The two-time defending champion Elina Svitolina has reached the semi-final after a 6-2, 6-3 win over Carla Suarez Navarro in swift 78 minutes, losing serve twice and controlling the pace on the return to seal the deal and stay on the title course. The Spaniard had won four of their previous seven encounters although she stood no chance today, losing serve five times and finish her run in the quarters. Elina won the last four games of the opening set and wrapped up a triumph with a forehand winner in the ninth game of the second after some problems that she successfully overcame to enter the last four in a great fashion.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2T9UtL0
No comments