Belinda’s World: Bencic Stays Perfect at United Cup to Send Switzerland to Final

Belinda Bencic worked another double shift at the United Cup on Saturday, and once again the Swiss stole the show.

Bencic took out Elise Mertens in a grueling three-setter 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(0), then teamed with Jakub Paul in mixed doubles to knock out Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 to send Switzerland into Sunday’s final against either Team USA or Team Poland.

Stan Wawrinka, who appeared in the Switzerland box with his sensational “Belinda’s World” t-shirt, fell short in his singles match against Zizou Bergs, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, which forced a deciding doubles rubber.

26-year-old Bergs, ranked No.42, has had a great United Cup, earning a pair of Top-20 wins (over No.5 Auger-Aliassime and No.18 Mensik) and going 3-1 overall in singles. He broke open the final set with a break for 5-3 and finished winning the final three games.

But the Swiss, thanks to Bencic, powered on despite Bergs’ heroics. But don’t forget to credit Paul, the world’s 341st-ranked doubles player, who has teamed with Bencic four all four of her mixed doubles wins, including three in match tiebreaks. He was instrumental in getting the victory, making a lunging backhand smash on a break point that kept Switzerland ahead in the opening set and making several other decisive plays as Switzerland pulled away in the match tiebreak.

In stifling heat, 28-year-old Bencic earned her first career win over Mertens despite dropping a singles set for the first time all week.

More to follow…