Belinda Bencic fights back from the brink to clinch Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open title

Belinda Bencic fought back from the brink to defeat Liudmila Samsonova in a thrilling Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final on Sunday evening to capture her second title of the season.

Bencic looked on course for a fourth straight loss to the Russian after getting bulldozed in the first set, but the Swiss second seed toughed it out to edge a nail-biting second set tiebreak – saving three championship points – and took the decider for a 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory.

With the title at the inaugural tournament at Zayed Sports City’s International Tennis Centre, the 25-year-old also becomes the first player to secure the UAE double, having won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in 2019. The secret behind her success in the Emirates? "Dates ... I really like to eat the dates," Bencic said.

Turning her attention to the match, the Swiss said: “I just tried to fight for every shot. Maybe in the end I got a little bit lucky to turn it around in the tiebreak but I'm happy with how I stayed strong and fought until the end.

"I’m super happy finally [to win] against her. It fell a little bit on my side. I’m really happy with the title, the match was really tough for a final.”

Concluding her campaign with the trophy seemed improbable for Bencic 35 minutes into the final. The Olympic champion had been utterly dominated in a seven-game opening set, with Samsonova by far the superior player.

Belinda Bencic after winning the final. AFP

History did not favour Bencic at that point, either. Three times these two players have previously met, three times Samsonova has taken the victory, including twice in finals. Samsonova had also previously been perfect in finals, winning all four she has competed in.

"Obviously you are aware of it, that you lost