TENNIS – Belinda Bencic won the biggest title of her young career at the Rogers Cup Premier 5 Tournament in Toronto with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 3-0 win over Simona Halep who was forced to withdraw because of a left thigh injury after three games of the decisive set on a very hot day in Canada.
Bencic has completed the best week of her career in which she beat four of the top five seeds Eugenie Bouchard, Caroline Wozniacki, Sabine Lisicki, Serena Williams before winning a hard-fought final against Simona Halep. All of her opponents have been Grand Slam finalists at least once in their career.
The opening set started with five breaks in the first five games. Bencic held her serve in the sixth game but Halep drew level to 4-4 in the next game. The first set came down to the tie-break where Halep opened up a 4-1 lead but Bencic reeled off four points to take a 5-4 lead before closing out on her first set point with a forehand.
As Bencic was serving for the match, Halep won three consecutive games from 3-5 in the second set to take a 6-5 lead. Bencic broke serve to force the second set to the tie-break. Halep won the breaker with 7-4 but she was forced to pull out of the match because of a leg injury after two hours and 30 minutes in sweltering conditions.
Bencic has won her second title this year two months after the first triumph of her career in the Premier-level event in Eastbourne
Bencic has become the first 18-year-old player to win in Toronto since her compatriot Martina Hingis in 1999. Bencic will move up to World Number 12 in the WTA Rankings next week.
Bencic has become the first teenager to clinch a Premier-5 toutrnament since Vika Azarenka in Miami in 2007 and the first player in the top-2 to win a Premier level tournament or higher since Justine Henin in Charleston 2009
“I thank the crowd. They were amazing in every match this week. It’s just been such a special tournament and I will never forget it.
