Belinda Bencic has advanced to the final of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open after a thrilling victory over defending champion Elena Rybakina. The Swiss star will now face Ashlyn Krueger, who secured her place in the final with a straight-sets win over Linda Noskova.
Bencic, the 2023 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open champion, entered the semi-final as the underdog against Rybakina, the current titleholder. Despite a strong start from Rybakina, who quickly took control of the match and won the first set 6-3, Bencic showed her resilience. After returning from a maternity break late last year, Bencic has been gaining momentum, with a straight-set win over Marketa Vondrousova securing her spot in the semi-finals.
The setback in the first set didn’t deter Bencic. She stormed back in the second set, taking a 3-0 lead. Rybakina fought back, but Bencic held firm, forcing the match into a deciding third set. It was Bencic who looked the more dangerous player as the match wore on, breaking Rybakina’s serve for the third time. After saving two match points, Rybakina fought back but couldn’t stop Bencic from serving out the match. Bencic won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, advancing to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final for the second time.
In the other semi-final, Ashlyn Krueger continued her impressive form, following up her standout wins against Daria Kasatkina and Leylah Fernandez with a hard-fought victory over Noskova. The two 20-year-olds had both impressed on their way to the semi-finals, and Krueger showed her resolve in a tight encounter. Noskova, who had recently won her maiden title in Monterrey, led 4-2 in the first set, but Krueger staged a comeback. The set was ultimately decided by a tie-break, which Krueger claimed 7-2.
Krueger’s confidence grew in the second set as she broke Noskova twice. Despite a brief wobble when Noskova broke back to bring the score to 5-4, Krueger held her nerve and closed out the match 7-6, 6-4, earning her first appearance in a WTA 500 final.
Now, Bencic will face Krueger in what promises to be an exciting final at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Saturday.
