The youngster Catherine Bellis pulls off the uncanny upset over #6 Agnieszka Radwanska at the Dubai Tennis Championships. In her four tries against top ten players, Bellis did not win to go to the next round, but today was different.
Bellis was aggressive with frustrating Radwanska with her unique backspin and kept Radwanska at bay with no faults in the first two sets. She was focused and determined to get Radwanska on her heels
Going into the third set, Bellis was up 2-0. Radwanska got herself back in the game after winning two straight sets and making a game out of it. “I got myself in a bit of trouble in the second set, but I’m glad I got out of it,” Bellis said after the match. “I just thought to myself, stick to my game plan, just keep steady, I can come back.”
Both players poured it on in the third match, but Bellis escaped defeat and shocked a lot of people, winning her last set 6-2.
“I have had kind of a dream couple of months since I have turned pro, but obviously it’s not always going to be always happy-go-lucky, but I have been really lucky so far,” Bellis said.”I’m really just enjoying it more just thinking about how much fun I’m having and what an experience it’s been for me so far.”
“It’s definitely, obviously, the biggest win of my career, and probably one of the best days of my life,” Bellis said.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Wozniacki said during her on-court interview. “She mixes up the pace a lot and she has great hands and serves well. For me, it was important to play to my own strengths.”
Before the match, Bellis was one of two players that were under 20 years of age. Right now Bellis is ranked #70; With a win over a top ten opponent, Bellis could move into the top 50.
Bellis plays 10th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the quarterfinals.
