SEOUL-Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil captured her first WTA title of the season by winning the Korea Open in Seoul:eatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil captured her first WTA title of the season by winning the Korea Open in Seoul, expressing gratitude towards the nearly 10,000 spectators who supported her during the final. Haddad Maia, ranked 17th globally, overcame 13th-ranked Russian player Daria Kasatkina in a challenging three-set match, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, at the Olympic Park Tennis Center.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Haddad Maia’s victory on Sunday marks her fourth career WTA title and her first since June 2022. The match saw Haddad Maia make a dramatic turnaround after losing the first set swiftly in just 26 minutes. Her performance improved significantly as the game progressed, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the second set and dominating the final set.
“I started the match missing a lot of shots. The first set wasn’t good and (Kasatkina) deserved the first set,” Haddad Maia stated. She acknowledged the difficul
t weather conditions but felt a shift in momentum during the match. “It wasn’t easy in the second set, and it was very windy. I wasn’t feeling good but I knew what I had to do. I felt that I was strong and competitive, and the match could change. I played better at the end of the second set and finished in a better way.”
The Brazilian player also reflected on her special connection with the Seoul venue, where she made her first WTA final appearance in 2017. Despite losing then, she felt the elevated status of the tournament, now a WTA 500 event, contributed to her success. “I feel this court is special for me. I have great memories,” she said.
The crowd’s support was pivotal as Haddad Maia felt encouraged by the spectators during her comeback in the second set. “I was feeling that the crowd was with me. It’s very special to have people supporting you,” she explained. Her positive memories of the venue and the crowd’s encouragement were instrumental in her victory.
Haddad Maia also expressed her admiration
for the Olympic Park Tennis Center, appreciating its historical significance as a former Olympic venue. She disagreed with criticisms about the facility’s standards, highlighting the unique atmosphere it brings to the game. “I think when you have a stadium where they played an Olympic Games, it’s historic. It’s like a monument,” she remarked. “It’s so special to play on this court. At least for me, I would keep the stadium like this. It’s very nice to feel the energy.”