Belinda Bencic reacts to making her first clay final in Charleston

World No. 21 Belinda Bencic couldn’t hide her happiness after finally reaching her first clay final in Charleston.

Bencic, seeded at No. 10, overcame Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets 6-4 6-3 in the Charleston semifinal. 

“I’m happy this moment came,” Bencic said after reaching her first clay final, per the WTA Tour website. “I didn’t think it would. But super happy with how I played today. I thought it was a great match, [in] tough conditions.”

Some would say Bencic was destined to reach her first clay final in Charleston.

Bencic, 25, made her maiden WTA semifinal in Charleston in 2014. 

Back then, Bencic suffered a tight three-set loss to Jana Cepelova. 

“I’m just so happy to be playing in the final. I just want to enjoy today and not think about it too much. I know what I have to do for tomorrow,” Bencic added. 

Bencic routed Alexandrova

Bencic made a good start to the match, having claimed the first break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.

However, Alexandrova refused to quit as she broke back Bencic in the seventh game. 

Getting broken back didn’t affect Bencic as she broke Alexandrova in the 10th game, when the Russian was serving to stay in the first set.

Alexandrova had a chance to start the second set with a break but missed out on a break point chance in the first game. 

After saving a break point, Bencic earned the first break of the second set in the sixth game to open a 6-4 4-2 lead.

Bencic then routinely held on to her serve the rest of the set to clinch a straight-set win. 

After a rough start to the season, Bencic has found her game in the United States. 

In late March, Bencic made the Miami Masters semifinal before losing to Naomi Osaka. 

Bencic is now a win away from winning her first title of the season.