Signing off
That’s all for tonight. Check back tomorrow as Bencic looks to capture her second WTA title against Simona Halep. Thanks for following along with us!
The post-mortem
Here’s a look at the stats from tonight’s match.
A little perspective
Serena Williams in 2015: WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) August 16, 2015
Bencic getting emotional during on-court interview
The young Swiss is getting misty-eyed while thanking her parents during a post-match interview. “The first set was just too fast for me, but then I adapted to the game really quick in the second,” she says.
“I can not believe it!” -@BelindaBencic #WTA https://t.co/FfZ8cJdsI8
— WTA (@WTA) August 16, 2015
Updated
Bencic breaks, wins set and match!
Third set: Williams 4-6 Bencic
Serena serves an ace, but Bencic strikes back with a winner followed by an overhead smash on the following point to make it 15-30. Two points from the finish line once again for the young Swiss. On the next point Bencic nets the return, but follows that up with a blistering backhand that Williams can’t handle and it’s match point to Bencic. Serena faults, then Bencic goes blow for blow with Williams in a punishing rally before finishing it with a forehand winner into the open court. A star is born.
Williams breaks!
Third set: *Williams 4-5 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Bencic with a deep, penetrating forehand that flummoxes Williams. 15-0. Then Serena puts far too much on a backhand from the baseline and it’s 30-0, with the world No1 looking as despondent as I can remember. Two points from elimination, Williams fights back with a winner in play and another off the return to make it 30-30. Inside-out forehand winner sets up a break-point chance and ... wow. It’s all happening. Or is it? Williams badly overcooks a baseline forehand and the unforced error brings it to deuce. Backhand passing winner by Williams gives the American another look at a break ... and Bencic puts a bow on it by mixing in a double fault. Now it’s Bencic who destroys her racket. Brutal. From 1-5 down, Williams is back on serve.
Third set: Williams 3-5 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
A service winner by Williams followed by an ace down the T makes it 30-0, but she commits consecutive errors from the baseline to make it 30-30 and Bencic is two points from the win. Then it’s Bencic’s turn to overhit a baseline forehand and Serena has a game point, which she converts with a deft half-volley at the net. Massive service game here for the youngster.
Williams breaks!
Third set: *Williams 2-5 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Two crisp points by Serena to move ahead 0-30 on Bencic’s serve, but she forces Williams into a backhand error and then crushes a forehand winner into the open court to make it 30-30. Extraordinary return winner off a Bencic second serve gives Williams a break-point chance at 30-40. Converts it with a return winner and we’re not done yet.
Bencic breaks!
Third set: Williams 1-5 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Bencic with a quick-strike winner followed by a Serena double fault and almost immediately Williams is 0-30 down. Overcooked forehand by Williams makes it 0-40 and gives Bencic three looks at a break point. Serena saves the first, but a Bencic winner secures the break and will give the young Swiss a chance to serve for the match.
Williams breaks!
Third set: *Williams 1-4 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Bencic wins two quick points and Serena gestures to coch Patrick Mouratoglou in her box yet again, a running theme today. A backhand return winner makes it 30-15, then an forehand from the baseline sent long by Bencic makes it 30-30. Forehand return winner by Serena – why does Bencic keep putting it in her strike zone? – makes it 30-40, then a Williams winner gives her the break. It’s not over yet.
Bencic breaks!
Third set: Williams 0-4 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Two quick points by Bencic on Williams’s serve and you begin to wonder. Then an overcooked shot from the baseline makes it 0-40 and gives Bencic three chances to go up a double break. Williams saves the first on a winner, then the second when Bencic nets an attempted backhand down the line, but can’t save the third as Serena pushes a backhand long. Bencic now up two breaks and will serve to go ahead 5-0 in the decider.
Third set: *Williams 0-3 Bencic (*denotes next server)
At 15-15, Williams uses a series to angled groundstrokes to run Bencic around the court until she makes an error. She then uncorks a vicious cross-court return winner to set up a pair of break-point chances. Bencic saves the first with a series of deep, penetrating groundstrokes that force Serena into an error. Ditto for the second and it’s at deuce. Bencic’s second serve is delivered right to Serena’s strike zone and she hits a practically perfunctory return winner to set up another break point, but Bencic swings it to game point with a pair of winners. Return winner from Serena across the court moves it to deuce. Williams can’t return a Bencic serve out wide and it’s game point yet again, but Serena saves it when Bencic misplays a drop shot. But a winner from the teen followed by a forced error by Williams gives Bencic the game, the finish line in sight if not yet within touching distance.
Bencic breaks!
Third set: Williams 0-2 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Two quick points from Bencic and Serena’s in a 0-30 hole. Then another double fault by Serena and Bencic has three break-point chances. She needs only one, winning the point for a break at love. Serena looks completely out of sorts, but we all know she’s at her most dangerous when her back is up against it. Greatest siege mentality in sports history. Will she tap into that legendary reserve tonight?
Third set: *Williams 0-1 Bencic (*denotes next server)
The players trade points then Bencic uncorks her first ace of the match to make it 30-15. Serena responds with a winner, then a return winner to set up a break-point chance. Bencic faults and just when it seems like she could lose her nerve again, Williams bails her out with a forehand error to bring it to deuce. Serena nets a forehand from the baseline to give a game point to Bencic, but Bencic commits an error and it’s back to deuce. Then another double fault from Bencic gives Serena a second look at a break. An error from Serena on the return brings it to deuce, but a backhand winner gives Williams a third break-point opportunity. Bencic saves it then delivers a winner to move it to a game point. A long rally ensues, Bencic hanging with Williams every step of the way, and it’s the Swiss teen who survives with the hard-won hold when Serena dumps a backhand into the net.
Bencic breaks, wins second set!
Second set: Williams 5-7 Bencic
Bencic has a foothold at 0-15, then Serena mixes in a double fault to move Bencic within two points of the set. A Williams service winner moves it to 15-30, but Bencic shrewdly goes behind Serena to wrong-foot the world No1 in a rally and set up a pair of break points to earn the set. The teen needs only one as Williams throws in another double fault to give Bencic the set. We’re headed to a decider.
Second set: *Williams 5-6 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Within the blink of an eye Serena has rattled off three points and now Bencic is triple break point down and in critical danger. She saves the first with a winner, then the second with an evern more impressive forehand down the line, then the third on a Williams error. Serena earns a fourth break chance but follows it with an error to bring it back to deuce. Beautifully struck cross-court forehand winner by Bencic gives her a game point, then punctuates it with another winner to earn the hold from 0-40 down. Impressive.
Second set: Williams 5-5 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Bencic with a winner to stake a 0-15 foothold, but Serena levels it on the next point and pressures her opponent into an error with a net approach to make it 30-15. Williams pipes in her 12th ace of the match to make it 40-15, then uncorks an eye-popping winner on the run to secure the hold at love.
Williams breaks!
Second set: *Williams 4-5 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Bencic and Williams trade winners, then a Williams error makes it 30-15. Serena knots it at 30-30, but then nets a forehand to give Bencic a set point. Massive opportunity here for the Swiss upstart. She faults ... and then, oh dear, a double fault. Nerves, nerves, nerves. Now at deuce Bencic faults again, and it’s Serena who pounces on the second serve and wins the point by pressuring Bencic into an error. One break-point chance for Williams as Bencic finds the net again and they’re back on serve in the second.
Bencic breaks!
Second set: Williams 3-5 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Serena opens with a double fault, but follows it with an ace: her ninth of the match to Bencic’s zero. Another fault by Serena at 15-15, and Bencic takes advantage by jumping on the second serve and forcing Serena into an error on the forehand side. A half-chance for Bencic at 15-30. Another double fault by Serena and all of a sudden Bencic has two more break-point chances. She saves the first with yet another ace – her 10th, that – then Bencic nets a forehand to bring it to deuce. That’s six break points saved by Serena this set alone. A winner by Williams and now it’s game point, but Serena mixes in consecutive double faults – her third and fourth of the game and seventh and eighth of the match – to give Bencic another look at a break point. Williams saves it with a gnarly forehand winner, but a Bencic return winner sets up another break chance. The seventh time proves the charm for Bencic, who finally earns the break. Meanwhile, Serena destroys her racket and earns a warning from the chair umpire.
Serena 1-0 Racket pic.twitter.com/qQA849N1jq
— Leigh Walsh (@LeighWalsh87) August 16, 2015
Updated
Second set: *Williams 3-4 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Two quick points from Bencic to open the seventh game of the second set, but she misfires on backhand down the line and it’s 30-15. Sharply angled cross-court forehand winner from behind the baseline – serious, how does she do it? – makes it 30-30. Then Serena errs from the baseline, but follows it with a backhand winner to bring it to deuce. Bencic forces Serena into an error to set up another game point, but another powerfully struck winner returns the score to deuce. A Williams error gives Bencic game point for a third time, but Serena follows it up with a return winner. Deuce again. Now another winner by Bencic and it’s a fourth game point for the precocious Swiss. This time Serena nets a forehand from the baseline and she’s finally got the hold.
Second set: Williams 3-3 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Bencic wins a pair of points on Serena’s serve to move within touching distance of a crucial break, but Serena fires back with a winner on the next point followed by a Bencic error that makes it 30-30. Vicious cross-court forehand winner by Serena on the next point gives Wiliams game point, but Bencic forces Williams into a pair of errors to earn a break-point chance. Right when it seems Bencic has wrested enough momentum for a breakthrough, Williams wrong-foots the youngster on a baseline rally to save it, punctuates the winner with a scream and we’re back to deuce. Another Serena winner sets up game point, followed by an ace down the middle to lock down the hold.
Second set: *Williams 2-3 Bencic (*denotes next server)
At 15-0, Bencic wins the point of the match when a baseline rally moves quickly into a rapid-fire exchange of volleys at the net. Serena can only clap.
.@BelindaBencic finally breaks for a 5-3 lead! Watch this incredible point earlier from the 18yr old! #WTA https://t.co/SeaWbINnLL
— WTA (@WTA) August 16, 2015
Williams closes it to 30-15, but throws in an error to give Bencic a pair of game points at 40-15. Serena takes aim at a backhand winner down the line, but hits the netcord – again! – and Bencic escapes with the hold.
Updated
Second set: Williams 2-2 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Boom-boom, it’s 30-0. Where Bencic has been laboring through her service games, Serena’s have gone far more swimmingly. An error by the teenager on an attempted backhand down the line makes it 40-0. Serena throws in a double-fault and Bencic fires a winner to make it 40-30, but it’s Serena who closes the game with the winner before it gets any more interesting.
Second set: *Williams 1-2 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Bencic seems to be growing in confidence here, but has also shown the slightest signs of fatigue. She follows a winner with an error to make it 15-15, then uncorks a service winner to bring it to 30-15. An error off the backhand side and it’s 30-30, but Bencic then forces Serena into a backhand error to set up game point and makes good on it with a forehand winner. On serve in the second.
Second set: Williams 1-1 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
A winner by Williams followed by a thudding ace – her fifth of the match to Bencic’s zero – makes it 30-0. A well-constructed point by Bencic sets up an easy open-court winner, then Serena nets a easy swinging volley she makes 99 times out 100 and lets out a scream of despair: all of a sudden it’s 30-30. Serena nets another shot from the baseline and now Bencic has a break-point chance that would put her up 2-0. Service winner by Serena to save it, then an error by Bencic to give Williams game point. Bencic brings it back to deuce with a forehand winner on the line, then earns another look at a break point when Serena commits another short-ball error. Serena faults, but Bencic can hardly manage a racket on the second serve and Williams slams home the meek return. Deuce. Long rally ends with Williams forcing a Bencic error and the Swiss looks a bit tired, but a Williams error on the next point brings it back to deuce again. Bencic pounces on a second serve and forces an error, earning a third break-point chance, but Serena saves it easily and moves on to secure the hold.
Second set: *Williams 0-1 Bencic (*denotes next server)
None of Bencic’s service games have come particularly easy and the second-set opener is no different, but the Swiss rallies from 0-30 down to win four straight points and earn the hold.
Williams wins first set!
First set: Williams 6-3 Bencic
Serena lets out a scream after winning the first point, her first outward show of emotion today. Another kick-serve winner makes it 30-0 and moves Williams within two points of the set. Williams runs Bencic from end to end on the next point with angled groundstrokes from the baseline, eventually forcing an error, to set up triple set point. Bencic saves the first, but a baseline error on the next point seals the set.
First set: *Williams 5-3 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Bencic with a netcord winner, then Serena hits the net on the following point but the ball sails out to give the Swiss teen a 30-0 edge. A Williams error makes it 40-0. She responds with a cross-court winner to cut it into lead, but Bencic closes out the hold on the next point. Now Serena will try for a second time to serve out the set.
Bencic breaks!
First set: Williams 5-2 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
After trading points, Serena misfires on an inside-out forehand and Bencic has a half-chance at 15-30. Now Serena’s netted a forehand and Bencic will have her first two looks at a break point. Serena saves the first with a massive serve that Bencic manages to return, but only to a position where Serena can smash it home for an easy winner. Then she saves the second with a nasty service winner on her second serve. Deuce. Bencic threads a winner and will have a third break-point chance and then – surprise! – it’s Serena who double faults to give Bencic the break.
Updated
Williams breaks!
First set: *Williams 5-1 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Bencic immediately falls into an 0-30 hole on back-to-back errors. A Williams winner makes it 0-40 and gives Serena three break points. A Bencic winner saves the first and prompts a trickle of sympathetic applause from the crowd. Williams errs on the forehand side to make it 30-40, then Bencic delivers her best shot of the day to save the third by painting the line with a forehand. A service winner gives Bencic game point all the way from 0-40 down, but Williams brings it back to deuce by punctuating a mid-length rally with a wicked cross-court forehand winner. Backhand winner by Serena sets up a fourth break-point chance ... and Bencic double-faults. Oof.
Updated
First set: Williams 4-1 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Serena opens with an ace, then pressures Bencic into an error on the backhand side. What ball-striking! Another Bencic error from the baseline makes it 40-0, followed by an ace to close out a palindromic hold at love.
@BelindaBencic rolls her eyes at her coach but she needs to do something, 1*-4 @serenawilliams http://t.co/kRsZ9udpkC pic.twitter.com/xW5PHUi1O2
— TennisTV (@TennisTV) August 15, 2015
Updated
Williams breaks!
First set: *Williams 3-1 Bencic (*denotes next server)
Williams wins the first point to put a bit of pressure on Bencic at 0-15, then doubles down with a deep, penetrating groundstroke that Bencic can merely return to the middle of the court, where Serena smashes it for a winner and a 0-30 edge. Bencic wins a point, but a return winner by Serena on the next point gives Williams a pair of break-point chances. She only needs one as a Bencic error gives Serena the game.
First set: Williams 2-1 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Back-to-back winners by Serena off short points make it 30-0 in a blink. On the next point Bencic gets a nice return and hangs in the rally long enough to force a Williams error, but Serena closes out the game quickly with two more winners. An ominous start if you’re Bencic: Serena looking dominant at even just a fraction of her best.
First set: *Williams 1-1 Bencic (*denotes next server)
A service winner from Bencic followed by an unforced error from Williams off the backhand side makes it 30-0. But Bencic then faults and Williams practically throws herself into the second serve and crushes a forehand return winner. Two more Williams errors give Bencic the early hold of serve.
First set: Williams 1-0 Bencic* (*denotes next server)
Two booming service winners from Williams to open the match that Bencic can hardly manage to get a racket on. At 30-0, Serena faults, then Bencic pounces on the second serve and wins her first point of the match after a short rally that ends when Serena nets a forehand. Williams follows that up with an ace down the middle to make it 40-15, then double-faults to bring it to 40-30, but earns the hold when Bencic pushes a two-handed backhand long past the baseline.
The players have emerged from the tunnel
Warm-ups are under way on Centre Court. Serena, who’s lost just once all season (to then-No2 Petra Kvitova), is the obvious favorite on form and experience. But don’t sleep on Bencic, who in this writer’s humble opinion is very much a superstar-in-waiting. The world No20, already the youngest player in the top 50, is guaranteed to climb to a career-high No16 in next week’s rankings regardless of today’s result. She could go to No15 if she reaches the final and as high as No12 if she wins the title.
Preamble
Welcome to Toronto, where tonight Serena Williams and Belinda Bencic will meet for a place in Sunday’s Rogers Cup final opposite Simona Halep, who saw off Sara Errani in the day’s first semi-final.
The 18-year-old Bencic will try to become the youngest player to defeat Williams in a completed match since the 2004 WTA finals, when 17-year-old Maria Sharapova turned the trick. She’d become the first teenager to reach the Rogers Cup final since 19-year-old Dominika Cibulkova in 2008.
Bryan will be here shortly.
