“This tournament really deserves both winners”- Belinda Bencic heaps praise on Ons Jabeur after grueling title showdown at Charleston Open
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Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur
Belinda Bencic held off a spirited comeback from Ons Jabeur in the finals of the 2022 WTA Credit One Charleston Open to win her sixth career title and her first one on clay. Playing in her first tour-level clay final, Bencic overcame a second set stumble to emerge victorious 6-1, 5-7, 4-6 in a grueling 2 hours and 35 minutes.
Benci breezed through the opening set as the Tunisian made a shaky start to the match. But Jabeur quickly bounced back and came from a break down in the second set to force a decider. After trading early breaks, Bencic quickly found her footing and won 3 of the last 4 games to win her first title of the year. This also marked the first time a Swiss player lifted the title in Charleston since Martina Hingis in 1999. Bencic will make a return to the top 15 at the 13th spot and Jabeur will rise to World No.9.
“Super proud to win the first title on clay“: Belinda Bencic
Bencic was all praise of her opponent, Jabeur, who was in tears after she lost the finals. Jabeur was playing in her fifth WTA final and ended up on the losing side for that fourth time. Bencic lavished high praise on the Tunisian saying she also deserves to be a winner today.
“It has been an amazing final, first of all, Ons, please don’t cry you are so amazing player and even a better person. Everyone in the stadium knows everyone in the world knows, you are incredible. I admire you a lot and you are a big fighter, you took everything out of me today, and this tournament really deserves both winners,” Bencic said during the trophy ceremony.
Benic was just two points away from being knocked out of the tournament in the first round against Wang Xiyu. It wasn’t an easy road from then on either as she then had to defeat WTA’s new teen sensation, Linda Fruhvirtova and then knock out two of the top 10 seeds in Madison Keys and Paula Badosa.
“Super proud to win the first title on clay. I think it was a week where I was fighting. I was two points away from the exit in the first round, and I feel like this is how you win the tournament. I’m just really relieved I served it out. I think Ons, she took everything from me today. And at some point, I just really didn’t know what to do anymore, and I think she played great in the second set … I was just trying to fight every point.”
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T Rushitha
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