Bencic closing in on fifth career title

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic is one win away from a fifth career title and a second on grass after she beat Alize Cornet of France 7-5, 6-4 to reach the final of the Bett1Open in Berlin on Saturday.

The 24-year-old, who last won a title in Moscow in 2019, booked her place in the final with a strong performance and again demonstrating her liking for grass, perhaps not surprisingly for a former Wimbledon junior champion.

Final tomorrow☺️ See you then, Berlin @bett1open pic.twitter.com/raHaW5LdoP

— Belinda Bencic (@BelindaBencic) June 19, 2021

“I always try to play as many tournaments on grass as possible because I just love the surface,” Bencic said, via the WTA Tour website. “Of course it gives me a lot of confidence. It’s always great to have this confirmation on grass that it (her game) is working well.”

Sunday’s final will be her fourth on grass, a stark contrast to her opponent, qualifier Liudmila Samsonova, a Russian ranked No 106, who will be appearing in her first career WTA Tour final.

The 22-year-old continued her stunning run with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Victoria Azarenka.

Outstanding performance 🤩

Liudmila Samsonova knocks out the No.7 seed Azarenka to book a place in her first career final!#bett1open pic.twitter.com/pVeEY1Lsp9

— wta (@WTA) June 19, 2021