Bencic Displays Wizardly Hands, Athleticism in Toronto Hot Shot

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Bencic Displays Wizardly Hands, Athleticism in Toronto Hot Shot

Belinda Bencic (with Kristina Mladenovic) won a doubles title last week at the Citi Open after falling in the second round to Svetlana Kuznetsova.

More: Harrison, Kokkinakis Nearly Come to Blows at Cincinnati Qualies

That hard work paid off tonight during her colossal upset of Serena Williams at the Rogers Cup. Call it doubles karma if you like. Bencic made a difficult, lunging get on a short ball from Williams then executed a kamikaze foray to the net. It looked like she was left for dead in the point as the 21-time major champion prepared to pummel a forehand, but her incredible anticipation allowed her to make the right read on Williams’ ball, and her core stability allowed her to get low and send it back with interest.

Two volleys later and the point was Bencic’s. It may have not been the turning point in Bencic’s 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 upset of Williams, but there is no denying that it helped the Swiss gain some much-needed confidence in a difficult second set that could have gone either way.

Bencic’s victory, the first by a player 18 or younger against Williams in over ten years, was a shock to say the least. But if the rising Swiss keeps making plays like this we won’t be surprised to see her in the Top 10 before the end of the year.

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