Unseeded Bencic upsets Kvitova to lift Dubai title

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic celebrates with a trophy after winning the final against Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova, 23 February, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Reuters

Reuters: Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic ended a four-year title drought with a 6-3 1-6 6-2 victory over Petra Kvitova in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday.

Victory gave Bencic, 21, her first win over second seed Kvitova, who had breezed past her in straight sets in the third round of the Australian Open last month.

The win was also Bencic’s fourth win over a top10 player this week after getting past ArynaSabalenka, Simona Halep and ElinaSvitolina in the previous rounds.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s incredible. I mean, I still cannot believe it,” Bencic told reporters after clinching her first title since she won the Canadian Open in Toronto in 2015.

“I’m so happy about the consistency that I could back up my wins. After playing a tough match, I could mentally win another one. It’s very difficult.”

Kvitova continued to struggle with her rhythm, as she had during the course of the tournament, hitting only 53% of first serves on target in the opening set and she also produced seven double faults.

“I think I played better in Melbourne,” Kvitova said. “I think definitely I served much, much better in Melbourne than here.

“(During the) whole tournament I was fighting with my serve. It wasn’t really great, I played a lot from the second serve.”

Bencic is the second Swiss player to win the tournament after Martina Hingis won the inaugural edition in 2001.