Belinda Bencic wins Abu Dhabi Open to secure first title since birth of daughter

Belinda Bencic came from behind to beat the USA's Ashlyn Krueger in the Abu Dhabi Open final and claim a first WTA Tour title since the birth of her daughter last year.

Bencic celebrated the arrival of baby Bella in April before making her comeback at the end of October at a low-level tournament in Hamburg.

The 27-year-old from Switzerland only played her first WTA Tour event just over a month ago but has wasted no time getting back up to speed, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open.

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"It's been a while! I'm super happy to be back here in Abu Dhabi. It's so emotional to come back and to win a title in front of my family is really special," said Bencic.

"We have done such hard work to come back. It was a big dream for me."

Krueger added: "It's so impressive you coming back and being a mother, it's really inspirational so congratulations."

Bencic, the 2021 Olympic gold medallist, had defeated top seed and defending champion Elena Rybakina to reach Saturday's final.

Looking for a repeat of her 2023 tournament success in Abu Dhabi, Bencic struggled to hold serve in the opening set as Krueger forced four breaks to take an early lead.

Bencic, though, regrouped to twice break the 20-year-old American, who is world No 51, and then hold to take command of the second set at 4-0 before going on to level the match.

Her momentum continued in the decider, with Bencic breaking in the second game before then holding a crucial third game to lead 3-0.

Although Krueger broke back in the sixth game, Bencic swiftly closed out a first match-point chance to clinch her ninth career WTA singles title.

Alcaraz beats Hurkacz to set up De Minaur final

Carlos Alcaraz battled past Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-3 to reach the Rotterdam Open final, where he will take on Alex de Minaur on Sunday - live on Sky Sports Tennis at 2.30pm.

Alcaraz, chasing a first indoor ATP Tour title, trailed 4-1 in the opening set before surging back with two breaks of his own.

Hurkacz, who had upset Andrey Rublev in the last eight, regrouped after recovering from 15-40 down in the first game as the second set remained on serve through to a tie-break.

Although Alcaraz took a first mini-break to move 5-4 ahead, a double fault allowed Hurkacz back in before the Pole closed out to level the match.

Alcaraz, though, swiftly stepped things up again, taking 12 of the first 13 points in the decider to establish a 3-0 lead, which he never looked like relinquishing as the Spaniard wrapped up victory in two hours and 23 minutes, making it to a first indoor hardcourt final.

Earlier on Saturday, third seed De Minaur progressed to his second consecutive final in Rotterdam with a 6-1 6-2 victory over qualifier Mattia Bellucci.

The 23-year-old Italian had defeated Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way to the last four and is set to climb up to a career-high world ranking of 68.

"He's played with so much confidence this whole week and played some incredible tennis," De Minaur, yet to drop a set after four matches this week as he looks to go one better than last year's runner-up.

"I knew going in it was going to be a battle and he was going to play loose. I just had to do my best to stay with him early and see if I could get my chances early.

"Then it became a little bit more of an uphill battle for him, but he has a very, very bright future ahead."

At the Transylvania Open, Russia's Anastasia Potapova beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 6-3 7-5 and will face Italy's Lucia Bronzetti in the final.

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