Rogers Cup: Belinda Bencic stuns Serena Williams

World no. 1 Serena Williams was sent crashing out of the WTA Rogers Cup after being upset by Swiss teen Belinda Bencic in a three-set marathon semi-final on Saturday.

 

The 33-year-old Williams, a 21 Grand Slam winner, suffered just her second loss of 2015 as the oldest and youngest players in the draw clashed in a tense two-hour, 28-minute showdown.

 

Bencic, 18, stormed from behind to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, snapping Williams’ 14-match win streak in Toronto to book her spot in Sunday’s final against second seed Simona Halep.

 

Bencic closed out the contest on her first match point by smashing a forehand winner to the open court. Bencic bent over and covered her face with both hands as she soaked in the biggest victory of her blossoming career.

 

“I can’t describe the feeling right now,” said Bencic.

 

Bencic is the youngest player to beat Williams in a complete match since the American lost to a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova in the final at Wimbledon in 2004.

 

Meanwhile, Halep advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sara Errani. The Romanian second seed Halep will play for her 12th career title and fourth of the year.

 

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis were ousted from the WTA event as the top seeds lost the semi-final 3-6, 2-6 to Caroline Garcia and Katarina Srebotnik.

 

Sania and Hingis won 41 points to 54 of their opponents. They shared $32,520 and earned 350 points each.