Kiki Bertens advanced to the Madrid Open Final for the second successive year with a battling 6-2 7-5 win over Sloane Stephens.
The Dutchwoman, 27, was not at her best at any stage but she fought hard to save eight of the nine break points she faced and that proved to be crucial.
Bertens’ appearance in tomorrow’s final against Simona Halep will be her third in a WTA Premier 5 event. She beat the Romanian in the 2018 Cincinnati final and lost to Petra Kvitova last year in Madrid.
“I feel unbelievable,” the Dutchwoman said in her on-court interview. “It’s great to be in the final again – like last year. It was a tough match today.”
She continued, “I’ve played against Halep in the past so I know it’s going to be a really tough battle. But I’m ready for it. I learned a lot from last year and I hope (I can win this time).”
Although the scoreline suggests otherwise, the first set against Stephens was a tight affair. The World No.7 earned an immediate break, but the American should have broken back straight away.
Instead, the World No.8 wasted four break points and soon found herself 3-1 behind. After that, Bertens increased her advantage by gaining another break in game five. She then hung onto her serve twice to close out the set 6-2.
Bertens fights hard to win the second set
The second set started serenely for both players as each racked two comfortable holds of serve. Stephens then raised her game. She held to love and earned her first break of the match to move 4-2 ahead.
However, she failed to capitalise on that advantage. Bertens broke straight back and then held to level the score.
To her credit, the American responded well. She held to edge into the lead and then threw everything she had at the World No.7 to try and get the break that would clinch the set.
She did not manage it. Bertens dug in and saved three set points to leave Stephens looking crestfallen.
After she came so close to forcing a decider, it was no surprise to anyone watching when the American succumbed to the pressure in game eleven.
Bertens played some great shots from the baseline to earn the decisive break, and then held serve comfortably to seal victory.
