Bencic to face Samsonova for Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open title

World number 9 Belinda Bencic booked her spot in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final after crushing Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2 6-3 at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City.

It will be her second final of 2023.

"It was a really good match and I prepared well for this game where I executed my shots well, so I’m really happy to have won today," Bencic said after the match. 

Bencic 👏 Means 👏 Business 👏@BelindaBencic sprints past Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-3 for her second final of 2023!@MubadalaADOpen | #MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen pic.twitter.com/ZnN8Mr1WrB

— wta (@WTA) February 11, 2023

She will face Russia's Liudmila Samsonova.

The world number 19 edged out Chinese Qinwen Zheng 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 on Saturday.

"It was an amazing match, Qinwen played unbelievable," Samsonova said afterward. "At the end, I think I was more solid, and this was the key, I think -- and of course the serve, I was serving very well."

See you on Sunday 👋

Liudmila Samsonova holds off Zheng 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 and will face Bencic in the Abu Dhabi final!@MubadalaADOpen | #MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen pic.twitter.com/L3LbNJbuU5

— wta (@WTA) February 11, 2023