Belinda Bencic expressed her happiness after qualifying for the WTA Finals after a 6-3 6-4 win over Kristina Mladenovic in Moscow.
The world number 10 had to reach the final before this week started to secure her place in the season-ending finale and that’s what has happened after beating Mladenovic in straight sets.
Hitting 24 winners, Bencic powered past her French opponent to seal her spot at the WTA Finals for the first time in her career.
After the win Bencic is relieved to achieve a goal that she had set at the start of the year, “I’m so happy I reached the top eight,” the Swiss admitted to wtatennis.com.
“It was a huge goal for me this season and so last-minute. I was so nervous before the match, but also reaching the final here tomorrow is amazing. I’m so happy.
“It was such a good level from us. We know each other well so that’s why it was very tactical. I just tried to really focus on myself and keep my emotions under control.”
As a result of Bencic’s qualification, the field for the WTA Finals is set, which starts on the 28th of October:
- Ashleigh Barty
- Karolina Pliskova
- Naomi Osaka
- Elina Svitolina
- Bianca Andreescu
- Simona Halep
- Petra Kvitová
- Belinda Bencic
The first alternate for the season-ending finale will be Serena Williams, with Kiki Bertens being the second alternate in Shenzhen.
As for Bencic, her week in the Russian capital isn’t done yet as she is set to play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Karolina Muchova in tomorrow’s Kremlin Cup.
Should the 22 year-old win tomorrow she will win her second title of the season following on from her victory in Dubai in February.
