Kyrgios dismisses Nadal in Acapulco

Acapulco second round results:

Acapulco:

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Juan Martin del Potro (6) who defeated Kevin Anderson (5) 6-4 6-4

ATP Second round

• John Isner (3) v Sam Querrey 

In a battle of the big serving Americans in set one, Isner won all but one point on his first serve, while Querrey won 15 of 19 on his primary delivery.

So not easy to find a break opportunity.

Isner didn’t face the problem at all;  that was for Querrey to negotiate, and he managed it once, but not a second time.  Isner led 6-4

Set two and an Isner shut out - 22 serves and 20 points won.  Querrey won just as many points on his serve, but he took 33 goes to reach that mark.  Isner meanwhile had two looks at a break chance, and grabbed one.

The third seed won the match 6-4 6-4

• John Millman (8) defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-0 6-2
• Alex de Minaur (5) received a walkover from Feliciano Lopez 
• Stan Wawrinka defeated Steve Johnson (7) 7-6(5) 6-4
• Mackenzie McDonald defeated Frances Tiafoe (6) 6-7(7) 7-5 6-3
• Cameron Norrie defeated Diego Schwartzman (4) 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3
• Nick Kyrgios defeated Rafa Nadal (1) 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(6), saving three match points, and winning the final five points of the third set tie break
• Alexander Zverev (2) defeated wildcard David Ferrer 7-6(0) 6-1

Quarter final match ups 

Nick Kyrgios v Stan Wawrinka 

John Isner (3) v John Millman (8)

Mackenzie McDonald v Cameron Norrie 

Alex de Minaur (5) v Alexander Zverev (2)

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Lesia Tsurenko (7) who defeated Stefanie Voegele 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2.

WTA Second round 

• Sloane Stephens (1) v qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia 

Before this match, the Brazilian qualifier had a 0-6 record against top ten players, only ever winning one set in those contests.

At 22 the career of Beatriz had been derailed somewhat with two back operations, but nothing would stop her best day yet when she knocked over the world number four in straight sets.

The opening set saw Beatriz with a first serve percentage of 77, and even when missing the first attempt, she won five of those seven points.

Stephens did break the Brazilian serve once, but Haddad Maia won just over half the points on the American serve, leading to two breaks and a 6-3 advantage.

Set two was even more decisive, with Stephens not having a break chance throughout.  The 172nd ranked player produced five opportunities and converted twice for a huge breakthrough victory 6-3 6-3

• Donna Vekic (3) defeated qualifier Christine McHale 6-4 7-5
• Saisai Zheng (7) defeated Timea Babos 4-6 6-4 6-3
• Yafan Wang defeated Monica Puig 4-1 (retired)
• Johanna Konta (8) defeated qualifier Varvara Flink 6-4 6-1
• Bianca Andreescu defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu (4) 6-2 7-5
• Sofia Kenin (5) defeated Katie Boulter 6-4 4-1 (retired)
• Wildcard Vika Azarenka defeated Tatjana Maria 6-2 6-1

Quarter final match ups 

Qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia v Yafan Wang 

Donna Vekic (3) v Johanna Konta (8)

Saisai Zheng (7) v Bianca Andreescu

Sofia Kenin (5) v wildcard Vika Azarenka

Nishikori out as quarters reached in Dubai

The second round  in Dubai threw up some interesting results:

Dubai:

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 25 February - 2 March 2019

Defending champion:

Roberto Bautista Agut (3) who defeated Lucas Pouille (2) 6-3 6-4

ATP Second round

• Kei Nishikori (1) v Hubert Hurkacz

Nishikori, despite a woeful first serve percentage of 38 in set one, managed to win a majority of points on the second delivery.

He achieved the only break of serve in the first nine games, granting him the opportunity of serving it out at 5-4.

The Polish opponent denied the expected outcome, not only breaking back, but going a step further, winning eight of the final nine points, to steal the set 7-5, a Japanese forehand failing to clear the net.

Nishikori raced to 4-0 in set two, but once again failed to convert when serving for the set, this time at 5-2.  Hurkacz led 30-0 after levelling at 5-5, but he collapsed just as Nishikori did in the opening set, losing seven points straight and with it the set 5-7.  Five service breaks featured in the set, and as the players entered a decider, only one point separated the pair for the match to date.

A backhand down the line from Hurkacz in the fourth game, confirmed a break of the top seed’s serve.  Hurkacz won three quarters of points on his serve, and never faced a break point.  

Nishikori was attacked mercilessly and surrendered his serve a second time, losing the match in a major upset.

Hubert Hurkacz won 7-5 5-7 6-2, in the process recording his first victory over a top ten player.

• Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) defeated qualifier Egor Gerasimov 6-3 6-1
• Gaël Monfils defeated wildcard Marcos Baghdatis 6-3 6-2
• Qualifier Ricardas Berankis defeated Denis Kudla 6-4 6-1
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-7(2) 6-4 6-3
• Marton Fucsovics defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-2
• Roger Federer (2) defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3 3-6 6-3
• Borna Coric (6) defeated Tomas Berdych 1-6 6-1 7-6(4)

Quarter final match ups 

Hubert Hurkacz v Stefanos Tsitsipas (5)

Gaël Monfils v qualifier Ricardas Berankis

Borna Coric (6) v Nikoloz Basilashvili 

Marton Fucsovics v Roger Federer (2)

First rounds completed in Acapulco, Dubai

Further results from this weeks tournaments:

Acapulco:

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Juan Martin del Potro (6) who defeated Kevin Anderson (5) 6-4 6-4

ATP First round completion 

• Frances Tiafoe (6) defeated Jordan Thompson 3-6 6-4 6-3
• John Isner (3) defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-3 4-6 6-3
• Cameron Norrie defeated Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2 2-6 6-2
• Diego Schwartzman (4) defeated Marius Copil 6-3 4-6 6-1
• Alexander Zverev (2) defeated qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3
• Nick Kyrgios defeated Andreas Seppi 6-3 7-5
• Rafa Nadal (1) defeated Mischa Zverev 6-3 6-3
• Sam Querrey defeated lucky loser Guillermo Garcia-López 6-3 6-2
• Mackenzie McDonald defeated wildcard Emilio Nava 6-1 6-3
• Alex de Minaur (5) defeated Nicolás Jarry 7-6(5) 7-6(2)
• Feliciano Lopez defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-7(3) 6-2 7-5
• Wildcard David Ferrer defeated Tennys Sandgren 7-6(5) 7-6(3)

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Lesia Tsurenko (7) who defeated Stefanie Voegele 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2.

WTA First round completion 

• Sloane Stephens (1) defeated Pauline Parmentier 6-2 6-2
• Mihaela Buzarnescu (4) defeated Dasha Gavrilova 6-4 6-2
• Tatjana Maria defeated lucky loser Martina Trevisan 6-2 7-6(1)
• Qualifier Christine McHale defeated qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3 1-6 6-2
• Qualifier Varvara Flink defeated Amanda Anisimova 3-4 (retired)
• Johanna Konta (8) defeated Laura Siegemund 6-3 6-2
• Saisai Zheng (7) defeated wildcard Renata Zarazúa 3-6 7-5 6-4
• Tímea Babos defeated Dalila Jakupovic 5-7 6-4 6-4
• Bianca Andreescu defeated wildcard Jil Teichmann 6-1 6-3
• Sofia Kenin (5) defeated Rebecca Peterson 4-3 (retired)
• Wildcard Vika Azarenka defeated Danielle Collins (2) 6-1 6-2

Dubai:

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 25 February - 2 March 2019

Defending champion:

Roberto Bautista Agut (3) who defeated Lucas Pouille (2) 6-3 6-4

ATP First round completion 

• Kei Nishikori (1) defeated Benoit Paire 6-4 6-3
• Hubert Hurkacz defeated qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3 7-5
• Qualifier Egor Gerasimov defeated Robin Haase 7-6(2) 7-6(5)
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) defeated Matthew Ebden 6-4 3-6 6-3
• Gaël Monfils defeated Marin Cilic (3) 6-3 4-6 6-0
• Wildcard Marcos Baghdatis defeated wildcard Mohamed Safwat 4-6 6-3 6-4
• Denis Kudla defeated Matteo Berrettini 2-6 7-5 7-5
• Qualifier Ricardas Berankis defeated Daniil Medvedev (8) 6-3 6-3
• Borna Coric (6) defeated lucky loser Jiri Vesely 7-5 3-6 7-6(4)
• Tomas Berdych defeated lucky loser Ilya Ivashka 6-4 4-6 7-6(4)

São Paulo:

Brasil Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in São Paulo, Brazil, 25 February - 3 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Fabio Fognini (2) who defeated Nicolas Jarry 1-6 6-1 6-4

ATP First round

• Hugo Dellien defeated qualifier Pedro Martinez 6-1 6-2
• Juan Ignacio Londero (7) defeated Paolo Lorenzi 7-6(3) 6-1
• Jaume Munar (6) defeated qualifier Pedro Sakamoto 6-3 6-2
• Albert Ramos-Vinolas defeated qualifier Facundo Bagnis 6-1 6-3
• Wildcard Thiago Seyboth Wild defeated Elias Ymer 6-3 4-6 6-2
• Casper Ruud defeated wildcard Thiago Monteiro 6-3 6-4

Dubai, São Paulo, Acapulco start

Early results from this weeks tournaments:

Acapulco:

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Juan Martin del Potro (6) who defeated Kevin Anderson (5) 6-4 6-4

ATP First round

• Stan Wawrinka defeated qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4 7-6(6)
• Steve Johnson (7) defeated wildcard Gerardo López Villasenor 7-5 7-5
• Peter Gojowczyk defeated qualifier Federico Gaio 5-7 6-4 6-2
• John Millman (8) defeated qualifier Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Lesia Tsurenko (7) who defeated Stefanie Voegele 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2.

WTA First round

• Qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated qualifier Irina Bara 6-0 6-2
• Yafan Wang defeated Marie Bouzková 6-2 6-2
• Monica Puig defeated Maria Sakkari (6) 7-5 4-6 6-0
• Donna Vekic (3) defeated Misaki Doi 6-0 6-3
• Katie Boulter defeated qualifier Conny Perrin 6-4 7-5

Dubai:

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 25 February - 2 March 2019

Defending champion:

Roberto Bautista Agut (3) who defeated Lucas Pouille (2) 6-3 6-4

ATP First round

• Roberto Bautista Agut defeated wildcard Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4 6-3
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Karen Khachanov (4) 6-4 6-1
• Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Milos Raonic (7) 6-4 5-7 6-4
• Marton Fucsovics defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1 7-6(5)
• Fernando Verdasco defeated qualifier Thomas Fabbiano 3-6 6-3 6-2
• Roger Federer (1) defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 3-6 6-1

São Paulo:

Brasil Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in São Paulo, Brazil, 25 February - 3 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Fabio Fognini (2) who defeated Nicolas Jarry 1-6 6-1 6-4 

ATP First round

• Lorenzo Sonego defeated Federico Delbonis 6-4 6-4
• Christian Garin defeated Pedro Sousa 7-6(3) 6-2
• Marco Trungelliti defeated Taro Daniel 6-4 3-6 7-6(5)
• Roberto Carballes Baena defeated Maximilian Marterer 3-6 6-1 6-2

Tsitsipas, Van Uytvanck, Albot, Djere win titles

Four tournaments are on the tennis calendar this week and four titles were decided last Sunday.

Open 13 Provence 

Final

• Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) defeated Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5 7-6(5)

Hungarian Ladies Open 

Final

• Alison Van Uytvanck (1) defeated Marketa Vondrousova (8) 1-6 7-5 6-2

Delray Beach Open

Final

• Radu Albot defeated qualifier Daniel Evans 3-6 6-3 7-6(7)

Rio Open

Final

• Laslo Djere defeated wildcard Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 7-5

This weeks tournaments

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Juan Martin del Potro (6) who defeated Kevin Anderson (5) 6-4 6-4

Juan Martin del Potro will not be defending his 2018 trophy.  Additionally:

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

• Kevin Anderson replaced by Mischa Zverev 
• Grigor Dimitrov replaced by Cameron Norrie 
• Martin Klizan by Yoshihito  Nishioka

Rafa Nadal, world number 2,  is top seed.

The other seven seeds are all in the top 40, two in the top ten.

There are no byes.

Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Solplex, in Acapulco, Mexico, 25 February - 2 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Lesia Tsurenko (7) who defeated Stefanie Voegele 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2

Lesia Tsurenko will not be defending her 2018 trophy

Additionally:

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

• Ekaterina Alexandrova replaced by Laura Siegemund 
• Eugenie Bouchard replaced by Amanda Anisimova 
• Su-Wei Hsieh replaced by Marie Bouzková 
• Ajla Tomljanovic replaced by Bianca Andreescu 

Sloane Stephens, world number 4,  is top seed.

The other seven seeds are all in the top 50.

There are no byes.

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 25 February - 2 March 2019

Defending champion:

Roberto Bautista Agut (3) who defeated Lucas Pouille (2) 6-3 6-4

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

• Hyeon Chung replaced by Benoit Paire 
• Pierre-Hugues Herbert replaced by Denis Kudla 
• Andy Murray replaced by Robin Haase 

Kei Nishikori, world number 6, is top seed.

The other seven seeds are all in the top 20, two in the top 10

There are no byes.

Brasil Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in São Paulo, Brazil, 25 February - 3 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Fabio Fognini (2) who defeated Nicolas Jarry 1-6 6-1 6-4 

Fabio Fognini will not be defending his 2018 trophy

João Souza, world number 38, is top seed.

The other seven seeds are in the top 70, two in the top 50.

The top four seeds have first round byes.

Bencic d Kvitová to take Dubai title

The finale was happening in Dubai:

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - a WTA Premier 5 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 17-23 February 2019.

Defending champion:

Elina Svitolina who defeated Dasha Kasatkina 6-4 6-0

Belinda Bencic v Petra Kvitová (2) 

Petra Kvitová, if she won, would return to the number two position in the world rankings.  Belinda Bencic would, if successful, jump into the top 25.

Either way, both players are setting a swift early pace in the 2019 WTA Race.  The final was much anticipated, given the two sensational semi finals gone beforehand. In their three previous meetings, Kvitová had won all contests, and in straight sets.

As she’d done in the semi against Svitolina, Bencic broke early to lead 2-0 in the opening set.  Chances for a double break came in the third game, when, after leading 40-15, Kvitová double faulted, netted a Bencic return, and hit a forehand long, leaving her down break point.  A rushed Swiss forehand sailed long and saved Kvitová.  A second break chance was seen off via a forehand cross court winner.

Serve was held.

in the fifth game, the Czech star couldn’t hold back the Swiss tsunami, and the lead ballooned out to 4-1.

Kvitová hit a backhand return winner, and two Bencic errors helped the second seed to three break back points.  The first was converted and games were 4-2 Bencic.

The next two games went comfortably with serve, and at 3-5 Kvitová served to remain alive in the initial stanza.

Luck visited Bencic when a net cord won her the first point.  15-15 as a return found the bottom of the net.  Kvitová hit a forehand longer than necessary before a Bencic backhand finished in the same part of the net as per the second point. 30-30.  Double fault and the first set point for Bencic.  Rushing forward to the net, the young Swiss player put away a backhand to win the set 6-3

Set two and the contest turned 180 degrees. A double fault from Bencic created a break chance for Kvitová in the opening game, and a backhand which strayed long donated the lead to Petra 1-0.

Playing with a confidence and flair not as apparent in set one, the two time Wimbledon champ consolidated her advantage with a service hold, then proceeded to break again, Bencic failing to convert a 30-0 lead.

Kvitová ahead 3-0 and serve to come.

At 1-5, Bencic served her fourth double fault.  She steadied to lead 40-15, successive backhands forcing Kvitová into error.  

A stunning Czech forehand winner followed by a backhand just as good brought it back to deuce.  A return backhand cross court winner produced a set point for a rampaging Kvitová.  Another backhand return winner completed a parcel of brilliance from Petra, and the set was over 6-1.  

A decider was required.

Strong serving by Kvitová to take the opening game of set three.  Bencic replied with a solid game of her own, despite being hauled to deuce through a few delightful Czech winners. 

All of a sudden Kvitová lost control of the match which she appeared to have at this point.  

A forehand hit long, then a straight forward backhand at the net missing the court by metres.  A double fault for good measure, and Bencic couldn’t believe her good fortune.  A backhand winner saved one break point for Kvitová.  However a second double fault surrendered the service game to Switzerland, and Bencic led 2-1.

A consolidation for 3-1 by Bencic, and further service holds for 4-2.

Game seven, Kvitová hit a backhand wide, found the net with a forehand, and was down 0-30.  Two break points after Bencic put a backhand at the feet of Kvitová and the second seed could only place the forehand into the net.

One saved.  A wild Czech forehand missed the court and Bencic would now serve at 5-2 for the title.

A Kvitová overhead squared the game at 15-15.  Two Kvitová forehand winners, and two break points for a chance to retrieve one of the breaks.  

Not to be, as a pair of loose backhands brought it back to deuce.

A championship point arrived, but left after Bencic hit the net with a backhand.

The second match point ended with a Kvitová forehand sailing long and Belinda Bencic achieved her dream of a Premier level title, defeating Petra Kvitová 6-3 1-6 6-2 to win the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The ranking for Bencic moves from 45 to 23, and she is now 4th in the 2019 WTA Race, which Petra Kvitová leads (taking over from Naomi Osaka)

Semis set in Delray Beach, Rio

Quarter final day in Delray Beach and Rio de Janeiro.

Delray Beach Open by Vitacost.com - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Hard Plexipave, in Delray Beach, USA, 18-24 February 2019.

Defending champion:

Frances Tiafoe who defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-1 6-4

Quarter finals 

• Mackenzie McDonald defeated wildcard Juan Martin del Potro (1) 6-4 3-6 7-6(5)
• Radu Albot defeated Steve Johnson (4) 1-6 6-3 7-6(5)
• Qualifier Daniel Evans defeated Andreas Seppi (6) 6-4 6-4
• Wildcard John Isner (2) defeated Adrian Mannarino (8) 7-6(2) 6-4

Semi final match ups 

Mackenzie McDonald  v Radu Albot 

Quarter Daniel Evans v wildcard John Isner (2)

Rio Open - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 18-24 February 2019.

Defending champion:

Diego Schwartzman who defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-3

Quarter finals 

• Laslo Djere defeated qualifier Casper Ruud 6-4 7-5
• Aljaz Bedene defeated qualifier Hugo Dellien 4-6 6-2 6-3
• Pablo Cuevas defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 3-6 6-3
• Wildcard Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Jaume Munar 6-4 6-3

Semi final match ups 

Laslo Djere v Aljaz Bedene

Pablo Cuevas v wildcard Félix Auger-Aliassime

Of the eight players in the semi finals in Delray Beach and Rio de Janeiro, only one is seeded.

Quarter final day in Marseille, Budapest

Quarter final day in Marseille and Budapest

Open 13 Provence - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Hard Gerflor, in Marseille, France, 18-24 February 2019.

Defending champion:

Karen Khachanov who defeated Lucas Pouille 7-5 3-6 7-5

Quarter finals

• Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) defeated lucky loser Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4 6-3
• David Goffin (3) defeated Gilles Simon (6) 6-2 6-4
• Mikhail Kukushkin defeated Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-1
• Wildcard Ugo Humbert defeated qualifier Matthias Bachinger 6-3 6-3

Semi final match ups 

Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) v David Goffin (3) 

Mikhail Kukushkin v wildcard Ugo Humbert 

Hungarian Ladies Open - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Rebound Ace, in Budapest, Hungary, 18-24 February 2019.

Defending champion:

Alison Van Uytvanck who defeated Dominika Cibulková 6-3 3-6 7-5

Quarter finals 

• Alison Van Uytvanck (1) defeated Kateryna Kozlova 3-6 6-1 6-4
• Ekaterina Alexandrova (5) defeated Pauline Parmentier (3) 6-3 6-2
• Anastasia Potapova defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-7(5) 7-5
• Marketa Vondrousova (8) defeated Irina-Camelia Begu 5-7 6-1 6-3

Semi final match ups 

Alison Van Uytvanck (1) v Ekaterina Alexandrova (5)

Anastasia Potapova v Marketa Vondrousova (8)

Bencic ends Svitolina’s Dubai defence

Semi final day in Dubai:

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - a WTA Premier 5 category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, in Dubai, UAE, 17-23 February 2019.

Defending champion:

Elina Svitolina who defeated Dasha Kasatkina 6-4 6-0

Elina Svitolina (6) v Belinda Bencic 

Twice defending champion Svitolina was hoping to stop the giant killing run of Bencic who had slayed Sabalenka and Halep to reach the semis.

Bencic was fast out of the blocks, breaking Svitolina to lead 2-0.

After maintaining the break for a 3-1 lead, an ace sealing that game, Bencic cashed in on a series of Svitolina backhand mistakes to crack the Ukraine serve again.  A Swiss backhand winner capped off the game and at 4-1 Bencic was closing in fast on a set lead.

5-1 arrived complete with more Svitolina errors and another Bencic ace to finalise the service hold.

Svitolina at last decided to offer some competition, a love game on serve started with a forehand winner and concluded with an ace.

However, nothing would stop the Swiss onslaught, and Bencic surrendered just a single point when serving out the set 6-2.

Set two began with two breaks of serve, before order was restored at least for the next three games, with just one break point raising its head.  It lasted just a second, blasted out of existence by a timely ace.

3-2 was just the calm before a storm of fairly average tennis, points won through error rather than winners and a lack of initiative shown by both players.

Bencic lost her serve to love, a double fault and forehand failure the basis.  Svitolina was the beneficiary, now leading 4-2.  Of course she wasn’t able to consolidate, immediately broken to 15, double faults to start and end a game to forget.

Back on serve, Bencic was unable to enjoy the Svitolina charity, instead joining the double fault procession and adding a stream of errors.  Another serve broken, and Svitolina led 5-3, somehow with a chance to win the set.

The sixth seed managed to save a break point and indeed held serve to win the set 6-3.

The deciding set saw both players raise the standard of tennis and this was reflected in the ability to hit more winners, restrict errors somewhat, and hold serve.

For six games no break points were faced.

Then Svitolina, who clearly wanted a third straight title, struck.  A wide Bencic forehand in the seventh game put the Swiss player down three break points, and she could only fend off one of them.

Svitolina led 4-3 with serve to come.

The break was consolidated, and at 3-5 Bencic had to hold serve to remain in the semi final.  A love game, finished with an ace, did exactly that, but still Svitolina had the chance to serve for the match.

A forehand return winner gave Bencic her seventh point in succession, and Svitolina was down 0-40.  A double fault confirmed a dropped serve and games were 5-5.  Bencic had performed another comeback when all appeared lost.

Svitolina’s next attempt to hold serve was at 5-6, and it was to stay in the match.  Not the greatest start was a double fault, and a forehand hit long gave two match points to Bencic.  These were saved, as was a third, this one by an ace.

A tie break would have to solve the impasse.

The first point against serve went to Bencic who kept that edge until a forehand error on the fifth point.  The very next point, on the Svitolina serve, landed in the Swiss pocket thanks to a Ukraine forehand hitting the net.

Bencic, leading 4-3, had two serves to come, and Svitolina errors from both sides brought up three match points.

A winning lob was enough for Belinda Bencic to end the reign of Elina Svitolina in Dubai 6-2 3-6 7-6(3)