Svitolina close to defending the title in Shenzhen: "I always like to push my limits"

It was a perfect start for Bencic as she managed to win the first set 7-5. In the second and third set, however, it was Svitolina who got better. Bencic had 3 breakpoints in the third set but did not use any and so her opponent won the set. When Svitolina was leading already 4-1 in the third, Bencic decided to retire.

"It's tough to play someone who has been injured, been injured on the court," Svitolina said after the match. "It was tough for her. It's still kind of not realizing that I'm in the final. It's the very, very last match of the season. Definitely tomorrow, I'm going to leave everything on the court and fight just to try to get another trophy here."

First-seeded Ashleigh Barty and last, eight-seeded Svitolina will meet in the final. It can be 2nd title at the WTA Finals in a row for Svitolina, but Barty won't let her win it for free.

"I have an important match tomorrow to win. For me, I try to take one match at a time. You don't have to think so much ahead, so much what's going on," she continued. "It's such a big tournament like this, when you straight have to play someone who is in the top eight, someone who presents straightaway the tough game and you have to be from the beginning very focused and ready, that's what we try to do.

"It's every match from the beginning you have to be on it, have to be focused, have to be presenting your best game, your best mental conditions, physical conditions. I always like to push my limits. That's what I try to do."

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