Dubai: Belinda Bencic is hoping to emulate her Hopman Cup partner Roger Federer to trump Petra Kvitova in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final here, Saturday.
The former World No.7 will play her biggest WTA final since 2015 after ending Elina Svitolina’s 12-match winning streak 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3) in the semifinal.
Speaking of her Swiss compatriot, Bencic said: “I’m trying to be as calm as him (Federer). I know I’m far, far, far away from that. I’m trying.”
The 21-year-old’s opponent in the final, former winner of the competition Petra Kvitova, defeated Hsieh Su-Wei 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 putting a stop to the unseeded Taiwanese player’s giant-killing run.
The No.2 seed entered her first Dubai final in six years since winning the championship in 2013.
“It was a tough one today, for sure. She really didn’t give me anything for free. It was a tough first set. I’m glad that I was able to came back in the second. I didn’t play great at the end of the first,” Kvitova said after beating Hsieh.
Agencies
