Belinda Bencic beats Simona Halep to win Rogers Cup

But nobody would have predicted this. Bencic was just two years old in 1999 when Williams secured her first major title.

Venus Williams didn’t have her game, and the result was an early exit from the Rogers Cup.

An upset didn’t look so likely early on – Williams stormed out to a 5-1 lead right out of the gates, and even though Bencic played herself into it nicely from there, closing the gap by two games before dropping the first set, 6-3, and staying even through 3-all in the second, it still seemed a longshot.

It was then time for Ana Ivanovic to succumb. Williams came roaring out of the gate, blitzing Bencic in a dazzling first set.

“It’s like I can not believe it, and it’s fantastic”, a giddy Bencic said afterwards. And also Melanie Molitor, my coach – a big thank you to you too. Because nobody likes to see a champion humbled.

Before shutting up the hater, Rowling raved about Williams following her sixth Wimbledon win on Saturday. It wasn’t my day. I’ll try to be politically correct. “So I don’t think about it anymore”.

The loser Williams & the victor of the first three Grand Slam events of the season, is preparing for the US Open. “Everything was off, my toss was off”. She won titles in Toronto in 2001, 2011 and 2013. The fifth-seeded Serb lost to Bencic in the quarter-finals this week. “They were like screaming all the time to push me to still play”. “I don’t think it should take away from anybody’s win”. On the 14th point, Bencic angled off a drop volley, but Halep burst up to the ball quickly and curled a forehand pass crosscourt, holding for 5-4.

Bencic’s own head was spinning. I mean the practice is not always easy.

“I didn’t know before that I beat like six Grand Slam finalists in a row”. Williams was the last unseeded player to win. The tennis queen also opened up about her venture into fashion.

Straight outta Compton. Except – not really.

The 33-year-old posed for the magazine to promote her new season fashion release – the Serena Williams Signature Statement Spring 2015 collection. Justine Henin was one of them. “And then I got really angry…”

Now it’s over and over again Serena Williams vs. The World – or… fill in the finals blank.

Bencic, the victor now faces Simona Halep in the final Sunday afternoon. She remains in awe of the woman but never in thrall.

“I feel I’m ready to start to play a Grand Slam”. The Romanian said she got a nice boost from the crowd on Centre Court.

In the top draw, first seed Serena Williams easily toppled Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-3. Those who have followed Bencic’s rise through the game over the past few months are aware that the Swiss youngster is a talent to watch. “But I’m in the final and everything that comes is going to be a bonus”. This is, after all, a player who has spent more time at No. 1 over the last two and a half years than her entire career before that; a player who has shown more drive to succeed than any of her contemporaries.

She hopes to continue the upward trajectory had saw her go from 212-ranked in the world at the end of 2013 to the newcomer of the year last year.