SEOUL-Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil emerged victorious at the Korea Open:eatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil emerged victorious at the Korea Open, claiming her first WTA title of the season after a formidable performance against Russia’s top-seeded Daria Kasatkina. The final score was 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 in favor of the third seed. The match took place at the Olympic Park Tennis Center in Seoul, marking a significant victory for Haddad Maia, who now boasts four career WTA singles titles.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Haddad Maia, currently ranked No. 17 in the world, demonstrated resilience and strategic prowess, especially after a challenging start where Kasatkina dominated the first set. Kasatkina, ranked No. 13 globally, initially displayed strong gameplay, swiftly taking the first set. However, the momentum shifted as Haddad Maia adjusted her tactics, resulting in a dramatic comeback over the next two sets.
The match detailed a tense competition, particularly in the second set where both players exchanged leads.
Haddad Maia’s breakthrough came when she evened the score at 3-3 after a crucial break, subsequently taking the lead at 5-4. Her persistence paid off, closing the second set with a decisive break. In the final set, Haddad Maia dominated, breaking Kasatkina’s serve early and maintaining control throughout, eventually winning the championship on a service game.
The Korea Open, recently upgraded to a WTA 500 event from its previous WTA 250 status, offered Haddad Maia not only the title but also 500 ranking points and a prize of US$142,000. This win represents a significant milestone in her 2024 season, reflecting her growth and tenacity on the international tennis circuit.
In other tournament news, the doubles final saw Nicole Melichar-Martinez from the United States and Liudmila Samsonova of Russia clinch the title. They defeated Miyu Kato of Japan and Zhang Shuai of China with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 scoreline.