Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the WTA season, knocking off American Serena Williams, the top seed and world No. 1, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
The 18-year-old Bencic needed two hours and 28 minutes to beat Williams, who has won 21 Grand Slam titles, on Saturday night.
Williams is trying to become the first player, male or female, to win a calendar year Grand Slam since German legend Steffi Graf in 1988.
The 33-year-old Williams needs to win the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 31 in New York, to add the feat to her long list of accomplishments on the court.
Bencic’s opponent in Sunday’s final will be Romania’s Simona Halep, who defeated Italy’s Sara Errani 6-4, 6-4.
On the men’s side in the Rogers Cup, Britain’s Andy Murray rolled over Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinals in Montreal.
