emirates7 - Belinda Bencic has secured her place in another Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final after staging a remarkable comeback to defeat defending champion Elena Rybakina in a thrilling semi-final. The Swiss star will now face Ashlyn Krueger, who advanced to her first WTA 500 final with a straight-sets victory over Linda Noskova.
Bencic, who won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023, entered her semi-final clash as the underdog against Rybakina, the reigning champion. Rybakina, having battled past Ons Jabeur in a three-set quarter-final, started strongly and took control early, claiming the first set 6-3.
However, Bencic, who recently returned to the tour following a maternity break, has been gaining momentum throughout the tournament. After securing a quarter-final win over Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets, the 27-year-old found herself trailing but used the setback as motivation. She raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set before Rybakina fought back. Still, Bencic held firm to level the match.
With the momentum on her side, Bencic looked the more dangerous player in the decider. A crucial third break of serve put her in position to serve for the match at 5-4. Rybakina showed her resilience, saving two match points and breaking back, but Bencic remained composed and sealed a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory, earning her second final appearance in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Krueger continued her impressive run in the tournament, adding Noskova to her list of notable victories after previous wins against Daria Kasatkina and Leylah Fernandez.
Both Krueger and Noskova, aged 20, have been standout performers en route to the semi-finals. Noskova, who claimed her first WTA title in Monterrey last August, appeared on course to take the opening set when she led 4-2. However, Krueger mounted a strong comeback, and after a closely contested battle, the set was decided in a tie-break, which Krueger dominated 7-2.
Buoyed by her lead, Krueger continued to dictate play in the second set, breaking Noskova twice. Although she was briefly tested when Noskova saved a match point and narrowed the deficit to 5-4, Krueger held her nerve on serve to close out a 7-6, 6-4 victory and book her first-ever WTA 500 final.
In the doubles tournament, Jelena Ostapenko and Ellen Perez advanced to the final after an authoritative 6-3, 6-2 win over Marketa Vondrousova and Liudmila Samsonova. They will face Kristina Mladenovic and Shuai Zhang, who defeated Olivia Nicholls and Olivia Gadecki 6-1, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
The doubles final, set for 2:30 pm, will kick off the final day's action as the two pairs vie for the title won last year by Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin. Following that, the much-anticipated singles final between Bencic and Krueger will bring the curtain down on what has been an exciting tournament.
Bencic, who won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023, entered her semi-final clash as the underdog against Rybakina, the reigning champion. Rybakina, having battled past Ons Jabeur in a three-set quarter-final, started strongly and took control early, claiming the first set 6-3.
However, Bencic, who recently returned to the tour following a maternity break, has been gaining momentum throughout the tournament. After securing a quarter-final win over Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets, the 27-year-old found herself trailing but used the setback as motivation. She raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set before Rybakina fought back. Still, Bencic held firm to level the match.
With the momentum on her side, Bencic looked the more dangerous player in the decider. A crucial third break of serve put her in position to serve for the match at 5-4. Rybakina showed her resilience, saving two match points and breaking back, but Bencic remained composed and sealed a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory, earning her second final appearance in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Krueger continued her impressive run in the tournament, adding Noskova to her list of notable victories after previous wins against Daria Kasatkina and Leylah Fernandez.
Both Krueger and Noskova, aged 20, have been standout performers en route to the semi-finals. Noskova, who claimed her first WTA title in Monterrey last August, appeared on course to take the opening set when she led 4-2. However, Krueger mounted a strong comeback, and after a closely contested battle, the set was decided in a tie-break, which Krueger dominated 7-2.
Buoyed by her lead, Krueger continued to dictate play in the second set, breaking Noskova twice. Although she was briefly tested when Noskova saved a match point and narrowed the deficit to 5-4, Krueger held her nerve on serve to close out a 7-6, 6-4 victory and book her first-ever WTA 500 final.
In the doubles tournament, Jelena Ostapenko and Ellen Perez advanced to the final after an authoritative 6-3, 6-2 win over Marketa Vondrousova and Liudmila Samsonova. They will face Kristina Mladenovic and Shuai Zhang, who defeated Olivia Nicholls and Olivia Gadecki 6-1, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
The doubles final, set for 2:30 pm, will kick off the final day's action as the two pairs vie for the title won last year by Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin. Following that, the much-anticipated singles final between Bencic and Krueger will bring the curtain down on what has been an exciting tournament.