Former world number 7 Belinda Bencic battled past two-time defending champion Elina Svitolina 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-3) after 1 hour and 58 minutes in a thrilling semifinal to get through to her biggest final in St. Petersburg 2016.
Belinda Bencic came back from the verge of defeat after saving six match points against Aryna Sabalenka.
The Swiss player dropped her serve four times and converted five of her twelve break points.
Bencic did not drop a point on serve and went up a double break to open up a 4-1 lead with a backhand winner. She wrapped up the opening set in the eighth game, when Svitolina netted a forehand.
Bencic earned an early break at the start of the second set, but Svitolina broke straight back in the next game. The Ukrainian player broke for the second time in the sixth game to open up a 4-2 lead, when Bencic made a forehand error. Both players traded breaks before Svitolina held serve in the ninth game to close out the second set 6-3.
Svitolina broke serve to take a 4-3 lead, when Bencic sent her forehand long, Bencic fought back from 3-5 down by winning eight consecutive points and broke back at love in the tenth game, when Svitolina made a double fault. The Ukrainian player saved three match point, when she served to stay in the match at 5-6, to force the third set to the tie-break. Bencic closed out the tie-bteak 7-3 with a lob winner to score her second win over Svitolina five years after beating the Ukrainian player in Charleston. Bencic has scored three wins against top 10 players for the first time since the Rogers Cup in Toronto 2015, when she won the biggest title of her career.
“From 3-5 I just completely zoned out. I think I was playing the same, even though I lost the match points. Somehow I was still focused. I don’t know why. I had a big chance on the first match point. I went for too much. I think I did the right thing. I was doing the right thing. Basically, i stayed in the zone, even in the tie-break. I was barely breathing, just playing automatic. You are not thinking any more. It’s where the instincts just guide you through it”, said Bencic in the post-match interview.
Bencic will face Petra Kvitova, who won their most recent clash in the third round at this year’s Australian Open.
“Petra is in good form. Maybe in this tournament I am also in great form. It will be a tough final. The final is always between two great players. I am very happy to play against her”, said Bencic.
