By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 16, 2015
Belinda Bencic backed up her upset of world No. 1 Serena Williams, defeating third-ranked Simona Halep to capture her second career Premier-level title in Toronto.
Photo credit: Phillip Sutherland/corleve
Belinda Bencic delivered a weekend warrior performance for the ages in Toronto.
The 18-year-old Bencic backed up her stunning upset of world No. 1 Serena Williams grinding through scalding heat and scrappy second seeded Simona Halep to capture the second Premier championship of her career today.
More: Bencic Stuns Serena Williams in Toronto
Bencic led 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 3-0 when a listless Halep, hampered by a left knee injury, nausea and heat-related illness, retired after two-and-a-half hours in a punishing Rogers Cup final that drove both women to physical and emotional extremes.
It was Bencic's 21st victory in her last 25 matches—a streak that began with her run to the ‘s-Hertogenbosch final in June. The Swiss who exhibits sharp court-sense well beyond her years is the first teenager to rule the Rogers Cup since an 18-year-old Ana Ivanovic raised the title trophy in 2006.
Watch out New York.
Could the projected Serena summer become Belinda's breakthrough season?
The former junior world No. 1 not only upstaged two of the world's top three players in successive grueling three-setters, she held her nerve, managed the court and struck with conviction to hold off comebacks from far more experienced—and seemingly fitter—opponents.
Bencic is projected to rise to a career-high No. 12 when the new WTA rankings are released tomorrow, but she's already performing at a Top 10 level—and making winning a habit.
The 2014 U.S. Open quarterfinalist knocked off four Top 10 players, including former world No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Ivanovic, capping a phenomenal week by beating Williams and Halep back-to-back.
Last weekend, Bencic and Kristina Mladenovic won the D.C. doubles title. Last night, she became the youngest player to beat Serena since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova toppled Williams in the 2004 WTA Championships.
The adrenaline rush of her conquest of the top seed had barely subsided, when Bencic returned to face the speedy Romanian.
Steamy conditions and pressure of a Premier-level final provoked emotional intensity in both women. The second serve is the weakest link of both women's games and both took their cracks at exploiting that vulnerability. They combined for six service breaks in the first set.
In the ninth game, Halep hit a sweeping forehand winner down the line to open a 40-0 lead only to watch it melt away as Bencic answered with a couple of fine running strikes down the line. On the 14th point, Bencic angled off a drop volley, but Halep burst up to the ball quickly and curled a forehand pass crosscourt, holding for 5-4.
The teenager called out her father and traveling coach, Ivan, during the changeover. Wailing in frustration at one point, Bencic used the break as a stress-relief session. Consultation with dad seemed to settle Bencic, who held with a feisty scream and clenched fist for 5-all. Halep held for 6-5 then called the trainer out for treatment on her left knee. She returned with taping above her left knee. When Bencic held to force the tie break point women had won exactly 41 points.
A topsy-turvy tie break saw Halep burst out to a 4-1 lead. Bencic responded with four straight points, including a forehand swing volley winner, and when Halep sprayed a forehand return she gained set point.
Jerking her opponent from right to left, Bencic drew the error snatching a hard-fought 68-minute opening set.
One of Halep's biggest problems in this final was closing games. She often built extensive leads only to see them erode as Bencic worked the corners in running rallies. Halep could not convert a 40-15 lead as Bencic broke to snatch a 2-0 second-set lead. Halep hammered a backhand crosscourt to break right back for 1-2.
Following the third game, a woozy-looking Halep took a medical time-out. WTA trainer Karen Jordan took the Romanian's blood pressure as a grim Halep stared at the court like a woman running on fumes knowing the race was far from over. Play resumed and Bencic broke for 4-2.
Wisely working the wide angles to drain the legs of her depleted opponent even more, Bencic dragged Halep wide to the forehand side, often drawing netted replies. When Halep swatted a forehand into net, Bencic had her third break of the set.
Stepping up to serve for her biggest title, the teenager tightened. Halep broke at love for 4-5 as Romanian fans chanted a familiar refrain: "See - Mo - Na!" "See - Mo - Na!"
By the time the set escalated into a tie break, Halep was bending over at the waist looking too spent to take another step. Bencic betrayed her cause with her eighth double fault, falling behind 1-3. Four points later, Halep lashed a running forehand strike down the line rousing Romanian fans into action and earning four set points. When Bencic sent a backhand beyond the baseline, but women gulped deep breaths preparing for the decider—before Halep departed for another break.
A thoroughly depleted Halep ended the match slumped in her seat, an ice towel draped around her neck and a vacant look in her eye. That premature ending should not detract from a pulsating Bencic breakthrough week.
Bencic beat all comers, scorching condition and a vocal Halep crowd in raising her 2015 record to 6-1 versus Top 10 opponents while looking like a player whose coming of age tournament could lead to even greater achievement at the season's final major in Flushing Meadows.