By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 31, 2019
Belinda Bencic has reached the semifinals on her Shiseido WTA Finals debut.
Photo Source: Getty
Belinda Bencic is still alive in Shenzhen.
The Swiss advanced by defeating Kiki Bertens on Thursday, 7-5, 1-0 RET, to book her spot in the semifinals on her WTA Finals debut.
"Feels pretty amazing," Bencic told reporters. "Especially we made it like on last minute and now to make semifinal through the group after a loss first match--it feels very nice, I have to say."
Bencic joins Ashleigh Barty as Red Group qualifiers—both players are making their WTA Finals debut. Only four players have won the title on their WTA Finals debut in the tournament’s 49-year history (Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Dominika Cibulkova).
Bencic battled from a break down and took the final five games of the match before Bertens called it quits due to a viral illness.
"I didn't realize [she didn't feel well] during the whole match," Bencic said after the match. "I didn't think she would retire. ... it was not the way I wanted to win but I am super proud with how I fought in that set because I definitely think maybe if wins the first set it's maybe a different story.
"After I lost the first match here I just wanted to kind of keep fighting. You never know."
Bertens leads the WTA in wins with 55 and was playing as an alternate for Naomi Osaka.
"It was really tough but I didn't feel well on court," Bertens said. "I had some problems with my stomach, just the energy was not there. A little bit dizzy, so it was just too much too continue."
Osaka withdrew with a shoulder injury after winning her first match of the week against Petra Kvitova.
"I think I gave absolutely everything this year," said Bertens. "Also this week. So I'm proud of that. Like five weeks ago I said to myself 'Okay you're completely dead.' I guess now I'm almost there."
Bencic improves to 49-20 on the season and is bidding to become the first Swiss to win the WTA Finals since Martina Hingis in 2000
She will face Elina Svitolina in the semifinals in Shenzhen on Saturday.
"She's one of the players that this court suits a lot," said Bencic, who owns a 2-1 lifetime edge over Svitolina (the pair split two matches in 2019). "I think I'll focus on my game. I've reached semifinals now I'm so relaxed already, really. I will just play and fight like always."