Bencic stuns Williams
Belinda Bencic stunned top-seeded Serena Williams 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday night to advance to the women’s final at the Rogers Cup.
The Swiss teenager took advantage of several uncharacteristic errors from the veteran American, who struggled with her serve most of the evening. It was just the second loss of the season for Williams, who fell to 43-2 on the year.
Bencic put her hands to her face after clinching the victory and cried tears of joy as fireworks went off outside Aviva Centre.
The unseeded world No. 20 knocked off three seeded players en route to her first career appearance in a Premier-5 Level event. The 18year-old opened with a victory over Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and followed with wins over fourth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, Sabine Lisicki and fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic.
She needed two hours 28 minutes to complete the biggest win of her career.
Bencic will play second-seeded Simona Halep in Sunday’s final at the US$2.51-million tournament. Halep beat Italy’s Sara Errani 6-4, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
Williams, 33, has won four tournaments this season — including three Grand Slams — and appeared to be in form over her first three victories this week. But 30 unforced errors and an erratic first serve did her in against the WTA 2014 Newcomer of the Year.
Bencic, who won her first career title this year at Eastbourne, became the youngest player to beat Williams in a completed match since a 17year-old Maria Sharapova beat her at the 2004 WTA Finals.
Halep, meanwhile, will appear in the Rogers Cup final for the first time and is looking for her fourth crown of the year. The 23-year-old has won 11 WTA titles over her career.