Staring down a one set, 2-4 deficit to nemesis Paula Badosa, Belinda Bencic was considering a post-match bathe.
Then Bencic cleaned up her act and rode a torrent of deep drives into the Charleston semifinals.
A gritty Bencic broke twice within the closing set beating Badosa for the primary time 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 to battle into the Charleston semifinals for the second time.
This Charleston run propels Bencic again into the High 20 at No. 18 in the live rankings, whereas Badosa continues her quest to attempt to surpass Barbora Krejcikova for the world No. 2 rating.
Olympic gold-medal champion Bencic fought off 10 of 14 break factors in a bodily two hour, 47-minute victory. Bencic will play both Magda Linette or Ekaterina Alexandrova for a spot in Sunday’s closing.
It’s Bencic’s second profession High 10 clay-court win following a 2019 Madrid quarterfinal conquer world No. Naomi Osaka.
Winless in three prior conferences vs. Badosa, together with a three-set Charleston loss final spring, Bencic conceded “I assumed I’m within the locker room already” going through that 2-4 second-set gap.
Bencic barely received a sniff of Badosa’s serve for a set-and-a-half, however by no means gave in and broke in three of the Spaniard’s closing six service video games.
“I understand how she performs lots, nevertheless it’s simply very powerful to play her—particularly on clay—however I felt like everytime I performed her, I received a little bit bit nearer,” Bencic advised Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman afterward. “In order that was like a optimistic thought for me. So I used to be not likely scared going into the match and I actually had nothing to lose.
“She’s quantity three on this planet, she’s taking part in nice tennis and it was going ot be an incredible match.”
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