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 (10/8), 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.
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.
Source: eNCA
In other news – RIP: Prayer service held for AKA
AKA whose real name is Kiernan Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant on Friday night.
Ashleigh La Foy, who is an artist in Durban says AKA gave South Africa timeless music. Learn more
