Bertens shocks Halep to win Cincinnati title

Aug 21, 2018 06:00 am

Dutch challenger Kiki Bertens profited from a third-set collapse by Simona Halep to score the biggest win of her career, beating the world No. 1 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 in the Cincinnati WTA final.

"This is the best day of my career, winning on a surface that you didn't really like. That's a great feeling," Bertens said. "I'm just so proud, and it's such a great feeling to hold the trophy at the end of the week."

Halep, who claimed the Montreal title a week ago and came into the final on a nine-match winning streak, ran out of reserves and was unable to stop the mounting Bertens momentum.

"I've lost three finals here, but maybe I will be able to win one at this tournament because I love to play here," said Halep, who fell to Serena Williams in the 2015 final of the hard-court US Open tune-up and to Garbine Muguruza in the title match last year.

"I had match ball, so I was there," Halep said. "I didn't take my chance. In the third set I was empty and I couldn't fight any more."

The upset took just over two hours and marked the 10th time this season that 17th-ranked Bertens has defeated a top-10 opponent. Halep is still the top seed in the upcoming WTA tournament in New Haven, which ends just two days before the US Open starts on Aug 27. - AFP