'Oh my goodness': Disbelief over extraordinary anomaly at US Open

Sports Editor

Thu, 5 Sept 2019, 3:45 am

Commentators couldn’t believe what they were seeing at the US Open on Wednesday when Belinda Bencic hit a crazy winner that bounced on top of the net cord twice.

Early in the second set of her straight-sets win over Donna Vekic in their quarter-final clash, Bencic hit a backhand down the line that looked destined to go out.

‘ABSOLUTELY INSANE’: Disbelief over 'crazy' drama at US Open

However the ball ballooned into the air off the net cord, travelling back towards the middle of the court.

It then hit the cord a second time before falling onto Vekic’s side for a winner.

Belinda Bencic, pictured here making her crazy winner. — Belinda Bencic's shot hit the top of the net twice before going over. Image: ESPN

“Oh my goodness,” Aussie commentator Rennae Stubbs said while watching courtside for ESPN.

“That was going well wide!” another commentator added. “It was missing by two feet.”

Bencic covered her mouth in half-shock half-embarrassment, while all Vekic could do was laugh.

Donna Vekic, pictured here laughing after the crazy winner. — Donna Vekic (R) could only laugh. Image: ESPN

Bencic out to emulate Hingis

Bencic is now two wins away from becoming the first Swiss woman since Martina Hingis 20 years ago to snare a major singles crown after continuing her magical US Open run in New York.

Bencic backed up her stunning fourth-round elimination of world No.1 Naomi Osaka with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 quarter-final triumph over good friend Vekic.

The 22-year-old's breakthrough is all the more satisfying after Bencic plummeted from seventh in the world to out of the top 300 in 2017 following wrist surgery.

"I was dreaming, of course, about this day coming, but you never know what's going to happen," she said.

Belinda Bencic, pictured here after her win at the US Open. — Belinda Bencic celebrates her win. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

"You're not thinking about it. You're just right in the moment. Either you're practising or focusing on your match.

"I worked hard for this. It's not like I never imagined I could do this. Still, like, I stayed in the moment. Yeah, very nice feeling."

The 12th seed is Switzerland's last hope in the singles following the quarter-final exits on Tuesday of men's heavyweights Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.

Bencic will play Canadian 15th seed Bianca Andreescu in the semi-finals, after the 19-year-old beat Elise Mertens in the other quarter.

Andreescu is the first teenager to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in a decade after her 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.

with AAP