• A happy Belinda Bencic kisses her trophy after winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title. AP Photo
    A happy Belinda Bencic kisses her trophy after winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title. AP Photo
  • Bencic celebrates after clinching her win over Petra Kvitova. Reuters
    Bencic celebrates after clinching her win over Petra Kvitova. Reuters
  • There was no second title in Dubai for Kvitova as the 2013 champion fell short. Reuters
    There was no second title in Dubai for Kvitova as the 2013 champion fell short. Reuters
  • Belinda Bencic poses with her trophy after winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. EPA
    Belinda Bencic poses with her trophy after winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. EPA
  • Bencic celebrates her biggest triumph since the summer of 2015. EPA
    Bencic celebrates her biggest triumph since the summer of 2015. EPA
  • Bencic plays a shot from the back of the court. Reuters
    Bencic plays a shot from the back of the court. Reuters
  • Bencic soaks in the achievement of beating four top-10 players in four days to claim the title. Reuters
    Bencic soaks in the achievement of beating four top-10 players in four days to claim the title. Reuters
  • Bencic and Kvitova pose with their respective trophies. Getty
    Bencic and Kvitova pose with their respective trophies. Getty
  • Kvitova goes for a shot. Reuters
    Kvitova goes for a shot. Reuters
  • Bencic stretches to get a return. Reuters
    Bencic stretches to get a return. Reuters
  • Bencic celebrates her success. Reuters
    Bencic celebrates her success. Reuters
  • Kvitova serves during the match against Bencic. Reuters
    Kvitova serves during the match against Bencic. Reuters
  • It was Bencic's first WTA Premier victory since 2015. Reuters
    It was Bencic's first WTA Premier victory since 2015. Reuters
  • The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was packed for the 2019 final. Getty
    The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was packed for the 2019 final. Getty

Tennis

Dubai Tennis 2019: Belinda Bencic holds nerve to win title against Petra Kvitova

Swiss player wins fourth successive three-setter as she beats world No 3 in final at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Graham Caygill

February 23, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Belinda Bencic has won the 2019 WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after defeating Petra Kvitova 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in Saturday's final.

The 21 year old claimed her first Premier title since 2015 with an impressive display as she defeated a fourth top-10 player in four days.

The world No 45 claimed the set 6-3, but seemed to be on the ropes as Kvitova claimed the second set with two breaks.

But Bencic, who had beaten Aryna Sabalenka, Simona Halep and defending champion Elina Svitolina demonstrated her fierce resolve as she broke twice in an one-sided final set to beat the 2013 champion.

Tennis