Beatriz Haddad Maia Defeats Daria Kasatkina to Win First-Ever WTA 500 Singles Title at the Korea Open

Beatriz Haddad Maia is celebrating a big win in South Korea…

The 28-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player, a US Open quarterfinalist this year, overcame first-set jitters in the Korea Open final to beat top seed Daria Kasatkina 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, winning the first WTA 500 singles title of her career on Sunday.

Beatriz Haddad MaiaHaddad Maida, who lost the final in Seoul in 2017, bounced back in the second set with lethal forehands that brushed the lines and cruised through the third set to secure her first title of the year.

“Another tough match. … Hope we have many more to come,” Kasatkina told Haddad Maia after losing her second match to the Brazilian, having won their first two clashes.

Russian world No. 13 Kasatkina won five games in a row to clinch the first set in 26 minutes as third seed Haddad Maida struggled with her serve, winning only nine of her 20 service points.

Kasatkina broke on the first game of the second set, but Haddad Maia put up a better fight, getting her first break of the match to make it 3-3, making a frustrated Kasatkina chase her returns to the ends of the court.

World No. 17 Haddad Maia saved a crucial break point to take a 5-4 lead, looking increasingly comfortable in long rallies. She broke in the next game to secure the second set with a strong forehand.

A transformed Haddad Maia was in control in the decisive set, winning 17 of her 22 service points and breaking twice in a row to secure victory.

“I want to come back again next year,” the 28-year-old said after winning her fourth WTA singles title.

Beatriz Haddad Maia Advances to Korea Open After Defeating Kudermetova Sisters in Back-to-Back Matches

Beatriz Haddad Maia is one way away from another title…

The 28-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player beat the Kudermetova sisters in back-to-back singles matches at the Korea Open on Saturday to reach the final, where she’ll face top-seeded Daria Kasatkina.

Beatriz Haddad MaiaThe quarterfinals and semifinals had to be played on the same day because rain washed out all action Friday.

Haddad Maia beat Polina Kudermetova 6-2, 6-1 to reach the last four and then got past Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-4.

“I improved a little bit from the first match I had today, so I’m happy,” Haddad Maia said after reaching her second final of the year. “Tomorrow I have another opportunity to do it better.”

The third-seeded Brazilian was the 2017 runner-up in the Seoul WTA 500-level tournament.

Veronika Kudermetova, at 27 the older of the sisters, had beaten Viktoriya Tomova 7-5, 6-3 to get into the semifinals.

Kasatkina advanced to the last four when 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu retired with an apparent left foot injury after losing the first set 6-1. She then beat fourth-seeded Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 to reach Sunday’s final.

Haddad Maia has previously won three titles.

Paula Badosa Outlasts Marie Bouzkova to Win Mubadala Citi DC Open

Paula Badosa is celebrating her first post-injury title…

The 26-year-old Spanish tennis player won the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Sunday for her first victory following a back injury, beating Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in a rain-interrupted match.

Paula BadosaBadosa, ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, was sidelined six months last year because of a stress fracture.

“One year ago I was on the couch, so it’s a big difference now,” Badosa said. “Now I’m an athlete again.”

She has four WTA Tour victories, also winning in 2021 at Belgrade and Indian Wells and in January 2022 in Sydney.

“I was really, really nervous because I really wanted it really bad,” Badosa said.

The match was delayed for about 40 minutes early in the first game of the third set.

On Saturday in the semifinals, Bouzkova rallied to beat top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 after a long weather delay in the third set.

Bouzkova was playing her first WTA 500 final. She won her lone career WTA Tour title in 2022 in Prague.

Leylah Fernandez Upsets Madison Keys at Rothesay International to Reach First-Ever Grass Court Final

Leylah Fernandez has pulled off an upset…

The 21-year-old half-Ecuadorian Canadian professional tennis player has booked her spot in the women’s final of the Rothesay International, after an upset win over Madison Keys on Friday in Eastbourne, England.

Leylah FernandezFernandez scored a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the fourth-seeded Keys.

The world No. 30, Fernandez will next face Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, who scored a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 semifinal victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, on Saturday.

The title match will be Fernandez’s sixth career final but first on grass and first at a WTA 500 level or above since the 2021 U.S. Open.

Fernandez, who reached the Birmingham quarterfinals earlier this month, is pleased with her grass-court form ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

Defeating Keys, ranked 12th and a two-time Eastbourne champion, only bolsters her confidence for the upcoming Grand Slam event.

“We’ve been working super hard the past couple of months [and] the past couple of years, so I am super happy with the results these past few weeks,” said Fernandez.

“It’s good preparation for Wimbledon, but we are just going to focus on [Saturday’s] final.”

Garbine Muguruza Named Tournament Director of 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh

Garbine Muguruza may be retired from professional play, but she hasn’t left the tennis world.

The 30-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan former professional tennis player, a former Wimbledon and French Open champion, has been named the WTA Finals tournament director, making her the first ex-player to take the helm of the season-ender, which will be held in Riyadh from this year.

Garbine MuguruzaEarlier in 2024, Riyadh secured a three-year deal to host the season finale that features the top eight singles players and doubles teams, replacing last year’s hosts in Cancun, Mexico.

Muguruza will work with the WTA, the Saudi Tennis Federation and Ministry of Sport on strategic planning and delivery, as well as helping grow the profile of tennis in the Middle East, the elite women’s governing body said.

“I feel very privileged to be able to contribute to the future of this great sport,” Muguruza said in a statement. “I know how special this event is for our top players and I’ve also seen its potential to inspire communities all over the world.

“I’m excited to work with a great team to present a showcase for women’s tennis that not only grows tennis but encourages all fans, and especially girls and women, to pursue their dreams.”

The former world No. 1, who won the French Open in 2016, Wimbledon in 2017 and the WTA Finals in 2021, retired at age 30 in April.

This year’s WTA Finals will run from November 2-9.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports such as soccer, Formula One and golf in the past few years while critics accuse the kingdom of using its Public Investment Fund to “sportswash” its human rights record.

The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.

WTA chief Steve Simon said last year that Saudi Arabia presented “big issues” as a host for women’s tour events but also acknowledged the progress it had made and continued to engage with players before the WTA Finals deal was struck.

There had also been pushback from tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who said the WTA’s values were in contrast to those of Saudi Arabia.

Beatriz Haddad Maia Defeats Maria Sakkari to Advance to Madrid Open Quarterfinals

Beatriz Haddad Maia is still alive at the Madrid Open…

The 27-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player defeated fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals at the tournament.

Beatriz Haddad MaiaHaddad Maia, the No 11 seed and ranked No 14 in the world, will next play World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, the top seed, who defeated Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo.

The Brazilian beat Italian qualifier Sara Errani (6-3, 6-2) and American Emma Navarro, the No 19 seed (6-4, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

Haddad Maia has three career WTA titles and reached her first major semifinal at the 2023 French Open.

She’s hoping to win her first title of 2024.

Camila Osorio Defeats Top Seed Marie Bouzkova to Claim Second Career Bogota Open Title

Camila Osorio has claimed her second WTA Tour title…

The 22-year-old Colombian professional tennis player overcame the top seed Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-6 (5) to win her second Bogota Open title in front of a rapturous home crowd in Colombia.

Camila OsorioIt’s just Osorio’s second WTA title, having previously won the Bogota Open back in 2021, before Germany’s Tatjana Maria claimed the last two.

But Osorio knocked the German out of this year’s tournament en route to reclaiming her crown and returning to the winner’s table for the first time in three years.

Currently ranked 85th in the world, Osorio is considered one of the WTA’s brightest young prospects and in the Bogota final, it was clear to see why.

Osorio was excellent throughout, taking the opener courtesy of two breaks to Bouzkova’s one, before a thoroughly engrossing second set followed.

It was Osorio who again struck first, earning a commanding set-and-a-break lead. But her Czech opponent struck back, before Osorio broke again to serve for the title.

Osorio initially faltered under the pressure, however, as Bouzkova took her third break point to take the match into a fitting tiebreak.

The breaker was close until 3-3, when Osorio upped her groundstroke intensity to ensure that she gave her home crowd the final cheer as she sealed her second WTA title.

Earlier in the tournament, Osorio, ranked No 85, defeated Canadian qualifier Marina Stakusic (6-4, 6-2), Romanian qualifier Anca Alexia Todoni (7-6 (4), 6-4), German Tatjana Maria, the second seed (1-6, 6-3, 6-3) and Italian Sara Errani (7-6 (4), 6-4).

Rafael Nadal to Play in “6 Kings Slam” Exhibition Event in Saudi Arabia

Rafael Nadal is headed to the Middle East this fall.

The 37-year-old Spanish professional tennis player, the former World No. 1, is set to play in an exhibition event in Saudi Arabia in October, the kingdom’s latest move into tennis.

Rafael NadalNadal will be joined by Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, new Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune in what’s being touted as the “6 Kings Slam” in Riyadh.

All but Rune have won at least one Grand Slam title. Djokovic holds the men’s record with 24, followed by Nadal with 22. Alcaraz has two, and Sinner and Medvedev one apiece.

Nadal was recently announced as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.

The ATP men’s tour moved its annual tournament for leading players who are 21 and under to Jedda, and the WTA women’s tour is in negotiations to put its season-ending championship in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has pumped huge amounts of money into sports, such as soccer, Formula One, boxing and golf, with critics accusing the country of using its Public Investment Fund to engage in sportswashing over its human rights record, including the treatment of women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The kingdom denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.

Caroline Garcia Helps Lead France Into United Cup Semifinals

Caroline Garcia has single-(and double-)handedly helped lead France to the United Cup semifinals.

The 30-year-old half-Spanish French tennis player and compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat Ulrikke Eikeri and Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday to end a tie that stretched nearly 6½ hours.

Caroline GarciaWith the deciding mixed doubles match victory, France defeated Norway to set up a United Cup semifinal against top-seeded Poland.

The first set was a tight affair until France broke serve to make it 6-5 before holding to win the opener and then made the only break in the second set for a 2-1 lead.

Ruud forced the quarterfinal to a decider by downing Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 6-4 after Garcia put France up 1-0 by edging Malene Helgo 6-2, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5).

Garcia, ranked 20th and the 2022 WTA Finals champion, had to work for more than 2½ hours against 544th-ranked Helgo.

“It was a crazy match, a crazy performance from Helgo,” Garcia said. “I didn’t know her very well, and she just played a crazy match, was hitting the ball so well.”

Ruud outclassed Mannarino in the men’s singles.

“I don’t think I faced a break point,” Ruud said. “So that’s great for my standards of serving … and putting Norway back on the board.”

The final on Sunday is at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.

Cristina Bucsa Claims Singles & Doubles Titles at Open BLS de Limoges

Cristina Bucsa is celebrating a special double…In the final WTA 125 tournament of the 2023 season, the 25-year-old Spanish tennis player swept the singles and doubles titles at the Open BLS de Limoges in Limoges, France on Sunday.

Cristina Bucsa

Bucsa started the day with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over French hope Elsa Jacquemot in the singles final. No.5 seed Bucsa, ranked World No.82 in singles, took 1 hour and 48 minutes to outlast 235th-ranked Jacquemot and win her first career WTA 125 singles title.

Less than an hour later, Bucsa headed back to the center court for the doubles final, where she and Yana Sizikova upset No.2 seeds Oksana Kalashnikova and Maia Lumsden 6-4, 6-1 to claim the title.

Bucsa had not dropped a set on her way to the Limoges singles final, but she did have a tricky quarterfinal against 20-year-old wild card Lois Boisson on Friday.

In that match, France’s Boisson led 5-0 in the first set before Bucsa fended off three set points and took it in a tiebreak. Bucsa eventually won that match 7-6(3), 6-2.

Another 20-year-old Frenchwoman was Bucsa’s opponent in Sunday’s final, and this time, Jacquemot was able to build a 4-0 advantage and hold on for the one-set lead. Jacquemot won 88 percent of her first-serve points in the first set, where she also never faced break point.

But it was Bucsa who was commanding in the second set, where she fired a forehand winner down the line to lead 3-0. From there, Bucsa cruised through the rest of the second set, where she never faced break point.

In the third set, Jacquemot hit consecutive double faults to drop serve in the opening game. Extending points with superb speed, Bucsa built on that momentum, breaking Jacquemot at love for 5-2.

Serving for the title, Bucsa came back from 0-30 down and carved a backhand to force a netted error from Jacquemot on the Spaniard’s first championship point. Bucsa will move up to a new career-high singles ranking of No.61 on Monday.

In the doubles final, Bucsa and Sizikova broke their opponents seven times en route to the 68-minute win. The champions were twice down an early break at both 2-0 and 3-1 in the opening set, but they notched 11 of the next 13 games to attain victory.

Bucsa has now won four WTA 125 doubles titles in her career — all of which have come in the last 13 months, and alongside four different partners.

It is the second WTA 125 doubles title of Sizikova’s career, with her previous one coming at Colina, Chile last November with Aldila Sutjiadi.