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Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Monday, 17 August 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Reuters: World number one Serena Williams was dumped out of the Rogers Cup semi-finals 3-6 7-5 6-4 by rising Swiss talent Belinda Bencic, who will meet Simona Halep in Sunday’s final after the Romanian second seed beat Sara Errani in straight sets.
Saturday’s defeat was just the second in 45 matches this season for Williams, who has won the first three grand slams of the year and will be favourite for a fourth when the U.S. Open kicks off at the end of the month.
The unseeded Bencic, who also beat former world number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic in Toronto, wore a look of disbelief after the 18-year-old’s forehand winner whizzed past Williams to seal the match.
Bencic dropped her racket and covered her face with her hands before the tears started to flow.
“I can’t believe it now,” said Bencic said. “The first set was just too fast for me, I think. But then I adapted to the game in the second set, and then I was just fighting. I mean I had 5-1 (in the third set). I’m so happy. It’s amazing.”
Bencic will play for title against Halep, who beat Italian Errani 6-4 6-4 in the other semi-final.
