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Bencic beats Pavlyuchenkova to win Kremlin Cup

Posted October 20, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland returns against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia during the final match of the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) - Belinda Bencic recovered from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the Kremlin Cup final on Sunday.

Third-seeded Bencic broke Pavlyuchenkova in the Russian's first service game in both the second and third sets.

Bencic hit eight aces despite landing just 54% of her first serves.

She's the first Swiss woman to win the Kremlin Cup since Martina Hingis in 2000.

The win capped a productive week for Bencic after she secured the last spot at the WTA Finals on Saturday. By qualifying for the Moscow final, Bencic overtook Serena Williams in the points ranking for qualification for the finals in Shenzhen, China.

Bencic moves to 4-6 in career tour finals and 2-1 in 2019 after winning in Dubai in February.

In the men's final, Andrei Rublev recorded his first ATP title since 2017 as he beat Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-0 in just 1 hour, 3 minutes.

The 22-year-old Russian is 2-2 in career finals after condemning his French opponent to his second consecutive defeat in Kremlin Cup finals after losing to Karen Khachanov last year.

Mannarino has lost eight of the nine ATP finals he's played, the sole exception coming with a win over Jordan Thompson in Rosmalen in June.

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Russian Tennis Federation President Shamil Tarpischev awards Belinda Bencic of Switzerland after her victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the final match of the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Associated Press

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland holds her trophy after victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the final match of the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Associated Press

Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates his victory over Adrian Mannarino of France in the final match of the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Associated Press

Andrey Rublev of Russia kisses his trophy after victory over Adrian Mannarino of France in the final match of the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Associated Press

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