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Belinda Bencic To Make Top 10 Debut

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Belinda Bencic has been checking off a number of career firsts at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy this week: first time playing a WTA event in Saint Petersburg, Russia; first time being the No.1 seed at a WTA event and, as of Monday’s WTA Rankings, first time ever in the WTA Top 10.

By reaching the final at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Bencic is guaranteed to break into the Top 10 ranking – she moved to No.9 by reaching the final and could climb as high as No.7 if she wins the title.

“This is a very big day for me,” Bencic said in an interview after defeating Daria Kasatkina in the semifinal (highlights here). “As a small kid, everyone is dreaming to one day become Top 10. And now I realize that all the hard work paid off. Until now, I didn’t know if I would make it.

“But this is an amazing moment for me and just… my dream. My goal is reached.”

This time last year, the Swiss prodigy was ranked No.37 and already on an upward trajectory, currently sitting at No.11. A flourishing 2015 saw her win a title in Eastbourne – defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in the final – and in Toronto – notching wins over Serena Williams and Simona Halep along the way – as well as reach two finals.

She might have just accomplished her dream of a Top 10 debut, but there are still plenty more milestones for Bencic to reach – after all, at 18 years old she’s just getting started.

“So yeah, now my next goals are just to keep climbing up, to keep winning matches and still to enjoy it.”

 

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Vinci & Bencic To Clash For St. Petersburg

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ST PETERSBURG, Russia – No.2 seed Roberta Vinci is through to her first WTA Premier final at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy after pushing past Ana Ivanovic in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

Watch live action from St. Petersburg & Kaohsiung this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

The No.4 seeded Serbian started the match strong off the blocks – she grabbed the first break of the match and raced to a strong 3-0 lead. But Vinci mounted her comeback by relying on her deadly slice backhand and timely trips up to the net, taking the first set 7-5.

Vinci and Ivanovic stayed deadlocked in the second set until Vinci broke again for a 4-3 lead. In the last game of the match, Ivanovic buried a drop shot into the net to give the Italian match point before Vinci sealed the match, winning the set 6-4.

Overall Vinci just played a cleaner game – she hit 18 winners just 12 unforced errors to Ivanovic’s 27 and 29 – and was lethal at the net, winning 19 of her 22 net points played.

“It was an incredible match, tough in the beginning with the 3-0 down in the first set,” Vinci said after the match. “But I think I play good games, aggressive.

“It’s always difficult to play against Ana. She plays so flat, so quick. But I’m happy.”

With the win, Vinci is into her first final since the 2015 US Open and is looking to add a tenth singles title to her career haul.

The 33-year-old Italian is set to face off against No.1 seed Belinda Bencic, who overcame the rising Russian Daria Kasatkina in the second semifinal. This will be the pair’s first meeting.

“Probably I’m gonna watch some games, but of course will be a tough match,” Vinci said of her potential opponents in the final. “They both play such a good game. They are so young but good ranking for both. So, will be tough but I’m in the final.”

Two of the youngest players in the Top 70, 18-year-olds Bencic and Kasatkina were facing off for the first time at the WTA level.

“Dasha is a very good friend,” Bencic said after the match. “I’m happy that we still can be friends off the court even though on the court we fight against each other. I think that’s the way it should be.”

Both players coming off of late night session quarterfinal matches yesterday, with Bencic’s battle with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova ending after midnight and Kasatkina’s match against Dominika Cibulkova finishing after 1 am.

A bit of lingering sluggishness was evident at the start of the match as both players traded early breaks and holds, keeping the match level at 4-4 before Bencic broke to take the set at 6-4.

Kasatkina created many break opportunities in the match but was only about to capitalize on one out of the 10, and Bencic was able to close out comfortably in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

The win not only books Bencic’s ticket in to the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy final, it also guarantees her spot into the Top 10 for the first time in her career.

“This is a huge moment for me!” Bencic enthused after the win. “To be in the Top 10, it was always like a dream, from very small kid – now I reached it! This is a big day for me.”

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The 2016 Race To Singapore Is On!

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The race is on! There are only eight spots available at the WTA Finals and every match, every game, every point, matters. Follow the 2016 Road To Singapore right here!

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Insider Notebook: Serena, Kerber Out

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

– Serena Williams has pulled out of next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships citing illness. The withdrawal means the Australian Open remains Serena’s only competitive outing of the year.

– Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki are also out of Dubai: The Australian Open champion is still entered in Doha – a Premier 5 event this year – but has withdrawn from Dubai citing an upper right thigh injury. Wozniacki has also pulled out of Dubai citing a left knee injury. The Dane lost to Dominika Cibulkova, 6-4, 7-5, at this week’s St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

– Coach Henin in action: The first snaps of Justine Henin coaching Elina Svitolina in Dubai:

– Venus Williams makes her first final of 2016: The American held off a feisty challenge – is there any other kind? – from Yulia Putintseva to win, 7-5, 6-3, and advance to the Taiwan Open final. She’ll face Misaki Doi on Sunday.

– Belinda Bencic primed for a Top 10 debut: The 18-year-old Swiss phenom will make her Top 10 debut on Monday if she beats Daria Kasatkina in Saturday’s semifinal at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

– Bencic and Kasatkina meet for the first time: Well, at least as professionals. The two 18-year-olds faced off twice in the juniors, with Bencic winning both matches. Saturday’s match will be the first time two 18-year-olds faced off in a WTA semifinal since 2008 in New Haven (Wozniacki, Alizé Cornet).

– Count it: Some great stuff here from Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis on their 38-match win streak (“We’re counting also,” said Mirza) and Hingis has nothing but nice things to say about her former doubles partner, Anna Kournikova.

– Too good, Hev: Heather Watson wins the #TBT sweepstakes this week.

– Wozniacki’s woes: Hard courts are supposed to be Wozniacki’s bread and butter. But after a solid clay and grass season last year, Wozniacki has made it past the Round of 16 at just three of her last 13 tournaments, all on hard courts. Her week ended prematurely in St. Petersburg, as she was defeated by Cibulkova in the second round.

– Lyndrea Price speaks to SI.com: The Beyond the Baseline Podcast features Serena and Venus Williams’ sister Lyndrea Price. It’s worth a listen.

– Oh, Donna: Ever wanted to know what exactly a WTA Supervisor does during the day? Introducing Donna Kelso, who has served as a WTA Supervisor for 19 years:

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