Tag Archives: WTA 500

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.”

Paula Badosa Advances to First-Ever Grand Slam Quarterfinal at the French Open

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It’s a personal Grand Slam best as a pro for Paula Badosa…

Six years after winning the French Open as a junior, the 23-year-old Spanish tennis player outlasted Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at Roland Garros on Sunday to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Paula Badosa,

“I’ve always liked dreaming big,” said Badosa after her win.

Badosa fell into a seeded position, at No.33, at Roland Garros when Alison Riske withdrew from the draw, but anyone who has followed the tour from week-to-week would have circled her name regardless.

Back on her favorite surface, Badosa came into Paris with the highest clay winning percentage on tour, at 86.7% (13-2). Her four wins and Paris brings that tally to 89.4%.

Badosa had been building a steady head of steam all season. She took her momentum from 2020 Roland Garros, where she notched just her second and third Top 50 wins, over Sloane Stephens and Jelena Ostapenko, to make her first Slam Round of 16.

Badosa then went on a string of notable semifinal runs.

  • In Lyon, her first of the season.
  • In Charleston, her first at the WTA 500 level, with a first win against a Top 20 player (Belinda Bencic) and first over a reigning No.1 (Ashleigh Barty).
  • In Madrid, her first at the WTA 1000 level.

And to add one more career milestone to the list, in Belgrade, where she captured her first WTA title.

As a result, Badosa rose from No.71 at the start of the clay season to No. 35 ahead of the French Open.

Badosa will next face Tamara Zidansek for a spot in the final four.