Bencic, Istomin 1st Time Title Winners Entering Wimbledon

Swiss Miss Belinda Bencic, coached by the original Swiss Miss, Martina Hingis, won a career-first title in convincing end-fashion on Saturday at the Aegon International Eastbourne, defeating Aggie Radwanska 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
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“I was disappointed I didn’t close out the second set, and I was also starting to get a little tired,” the 18-year-old said. “It was a lot of running out there, and we had some long rallies out there too. But I was very focused in the third set, and after 3-0 I relaxed a little bit and closed it out well.”

Bencic improved to 1-2 in career WTA singles finals.

Denis Istomin at the grasscourt event in Nottingham became the first player ever from Uzbekistan to win an ATP World Tour title, on Saturday edging American Sam Querrey 7-6(1), 7-6(6).

The 28-year-old, ranked No. 92 entering the event, failed to close a match point in the second set prior to the tiebreak, and trailed 1-5 in the second set tiebreak before coming back to raise the trophy.

“I worked for it,” Istomin said. “In the (second set) tiebreak, I forgot about the score and I just tried to play and fight.”

Querrey fell to 7-7 in career finals. “It was an emotional roller coaster towards the end,” he said. “He came up with some good shots. Generally I’m pretty happy to make the final but I’m sure when I wake up tomorrow I’ll be a little happier.”