A BLOCKBUSTER Adelaide International final will see two of the WTA Tour’s up-and-comers face off in a highly anticipated clash following semi-finals results. Second seed Belinda Bencic will take on fifth seed Iga Swiatek after both players took out unseeded opponents yesterday.

Second seed Bencic had to dig deep against teenage sensation Coco Gauff, winning after two tiebreakers were shared before either player, before racing away to salute in the third set, 7-6 6-7 6-2 in two hours and 45 minutes. In a match that featured pretty shocking consistency on serve, the pair produced 43 double faults between them (23-20 in Gauff’s favour) with the American serving eight more aces (14-6).

Unsurprisingly with the inconsistency on serve, both had plenty of chances to break, and Bencic broke nine of 25 chances, while Gauff broke six of 15 opportunities. In total, 15 of the 32 games went the way of the receiver, which is nearly unheard of at the top level. The second seed’s ability to win 62 to 55.3 per cent of her service points, as well as 44.7 compared to 38.0 per cent upon return was the difference.

Fifth seed Swiatek booked her spot in the final by taking down Bencic’s compatriot, Jil Teichmann. The Polish Roland Garros winner needed just 81 minutes to dispose of Switzerland’s second highest ranked player, winning 6-3 6-2 in style. Unlike the other semi-final, both players were fairly consistent on serve, but Swiatek was unflappable, only facing one break point and saving it. Teichmann, on the other hand, was broken three times from eight chances.

The strength on service was obvious for Swiatek, who won 77.1 and 58.8 per cent of her first and second serve points off a 67.3 per cent efficiency. Teichmann also won 79.3 per cent off her first serve, but struggled off her second with only 28.6 per cent success. In the end, the Grand Slam winner was just too clinical and booked her spot in the Adelaide International final.

“It was my goal from the beginning of the season, I want to be [a] more consistent player, just play good week by week,” Swiatek said, post-match. “I know it’s impossible sometimes. You’re just going to get tired at some point.

“But I felt pretty good from the beginning of the tournament. It’s really important for me. Just I feel that it’s going to be easier year by year because I’m going to be more grown-up, I’m going to be able to physically and mentally handle tournaments every week.

“It was my goal, so I’m pretty happy everything worked here. Hopefully other WTA tournaments I’m going to be able to do that also.”

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

[2] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated Coco Gauff (USA) 7-6 6-7 6-2
[5] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated Jil Teichmann (SUI) 6-3 6-2