Bencic wins Abu Dhabi title, Potapova champion in Linz

It was Bencic’s second title of 2023 after her win in Adelaide while she also became the tour leader in match-wins this season, with her 12 passing Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Published : Feb 12, 2023 23:12 IST

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland poses with the winner’s trophy after defeating Liudmila Samsonova in the Abu Dhabi Open final on Sunday.
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland poses with the winner’s trophy after defeating Liudmila Samsonova in the Abu Dhabi Open final on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Belinda Bencic of Switzerland poses with the winner’s trophy after defeating Liudmila Samsonova in the Abu Dhabi Open final on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Olympic champion Belinda Bencic saved three match points to defeat Liudmila Samsonova in the Abu Dhabi final on Sunday for the eighth title of her career.

The 25-year-old world number nine came through 1-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, saving the three championship points in a marathon second-set tiebreak.

It was Bencic’s second title of 2023 after her win in Adelaide while she also became the tour leader in match-wins this season, with her 12 passing Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

“It’s been a really tight match, and I’m happy to turn these match points around,” said Bencic.

“I just really tried hanging in there and scramble for every point, and just do my best. I proved to myself that I can really fight hard and just stay in the matches and somehow turn it around.”

Bencic defeated 19th-ranked Russian player Samsonova for the first time in four meetings having lost in the 2021 Berlin final, Luxembourg and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Before Sunday, Samsonova was a perfect 4-0 in championship matches.

Potapova dominates Martic in Linz final for second title

Russia’s Anastasia Potapova won the second title of her career as she crushed Croatian Petra Martic in straight sets at the Linz WTA final.

After losing the first two games, the 21-year-old Potapova quickly settled and dominated her more experienced opponent to take the match 6-3, 6-1 in Austria.

The world number 44 claimed her first title since winning in Istanbul in 2022 against fellow Russian Veronika Kudermetova.

Potapova’s victory over world number 34 Martic is due to see her break into the top 35 places of the WTA rankings for the first time.

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