Abu Dhabi Open Champion

World No.9 Belinda came back from the brink of defeat to pull off a victory over an opponent she had never previously beaten and capture her second Hologic WTA Tour singles title of the year at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.

No.2 seed Belinda saved three championship points in the second-set tiebreak before overcoming No.8 seed Liudmila Samsonova 1-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 in Sunday’s stirring 2-hour and 48-minute final. Belinda claimed the eighth WTA singles title of her career with the comeback win.

"It’s been a really tight match, and I’m happy to turn these match points around," Belinda said, after her win. "I just really tried hanging in there and scramble for every point, and just do my best.

"I’m really happy to walk away with the title here and I think I played some really good matches, but they were also tough. I proved to myself that I can really fight hard and just stay in the matches and somehow turn it around."

12-Feb-2023