Bertens and Sabalenka to battle it out in WTA Elite Trophy final
Patric Ridge
October 26, 2019 12:49 MYT
October 26, 2019 12:49 MYT
WTA Elite Trophy favourite Kiki Bertens reached her fifth final of 2019 as she battled from behind to beat Zheng Saisai in Zhuhai.
Bertens narrowly missed out on a place in the season-ending WTA Finals, but she will have the chance to claim a third trophy of the year thanks to a hard-fought 2-6 6-3 6-4 triumph on Saturday.
The Dutchwoman found herself a set and a break down at 6-2 2-1 but rallied to take nine of the next 11 games.
Despite Bertens holding a 4-1 lead in the deciding set, Chinese home favourite Zheng pressed back, breaking serve in a 13-minute eighth game to draw level.
But Zheng's resolve was swiftly undone as Bertens broke back, before the world number 10 served out the win to clinch a place in the final, where she will face Aryna Sabalenka.
wow! @kikibertens@WTAEliteTrophy pic.twitter.com/A0sG6StytO — WTA (@WTA) October 26, 2019
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World number 14 Sabalenka beat Czech Karolina Muchova 7-5 7-6 (7-4) to reach Sunday's title match.
A deciding third set looked likely at one stage, but it was Belarusian Sabalenka who finally held her nerve, the match finishing on an error when Muchova drilled a slack forehand into the net.
Through to the finals! @SabalenkaA defeats Muchova in a second set tiebreak, 7-5, 7-6(3), advancing to the finals of the @WTAEliteTrophy pic.twitter.com/oe61Nx9YrS — WTA (@WTA) October 26, 2019
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