Beatriz Haddad Maia edges Qinwen Zheng in close affair to win Zhuhai title; claims doubles title with Veronika Kudermetova to complete the sweep

No.8 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia won her third and largest Hologic WTA Tour title at the Huafa Technology WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, defeating No.7 seed Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling final 7-6(11), 7-6(4).

The final was the longest tour-level straight-sets match of the season, lasting 2 hours and 51 minutes, surpassing Yuan Yue's 7-5, 7-6(7) victory over Marie Bouzkova in the Seoul quarterfinals, which lasted 2 hours and 49 minutes.

This was Haddad Maia's first trophy above the WTA 250 level, her first on hard courts, and her first since Birmingham 2022. She had lost three of her four matches since injuring her hands in a freak shower incident in Guadalajara, but she rediscovered her best form this week to go unbeaten without dropping a set.

The final result, in a first-time meeting between the two players, ended home hope Zheng's eight-match winning streak, which began two weeks ago with her own first WTA 500 title in Zhengzhou.

The first set lasted 86 minutes and featured only two breaks of serve, both of which were sealed with outstanding forehand winners down the line: Zheng drew first blood to go up 3-2, but was pegged back when Haddad Maia leveled at 4-4.

The set ended in a nail-biting tiebreak in which momentum swung back and forth for 24 points. Zheng won the first and best point, capping a rally with another forehand winner down the line, but Haddad Maia took a 5-3 lead.

However, the Brazilian's forehand wobbled briefly, and she blew her first set point with a netted backhand. Zheng fought back with a stunning backhand winner to earn her first set point. Haddad Maia's perseverance in the face of adversity paid off in the end. Zheng's first serve failed her at 11-10 with a third set point, allowing Haddad Maia to take control of the next two points. Zheng's incorrect challenge allowed Haddad Maia to convert her fourth set point.

After such a marathon first set, the intensity level of the match dipped at the start of the second set, especially from Zheng, who dropped serve in the third game. But the 21-year-old clung to Haddad Maia's heels, propelled on by a raucous home crowd. She broke back for a 3-3 tie, only to double fault twice and lose serve again.

With Haddad Maia serving for the title at 5-4, Zheng hit one of the most spectacular shots of the day, a single-handed backhand pass hit at full stretch, to convert her third break point and tie the match at 5-5.

Zheng came within two points of winning the set, leading 6-5 and with 0-30 on Haddad Maia's serve. Haddad Maia stood firm once more in the face of danger. A pair of outstanding forehands got her out of trouble and into the tiebreak.

Haddad Maia's rock-solid serving was crucial, as she won seven of the last nine points after falling behind 2-0. Zheng, who was starting to fade, made two double faults, while Haddad Maia hit three service winners, the last on her second championship point.

Beatriz Haddad Maia (L) and Veronika Kudermetova (R) claimed their first WTA doubles title as a pair

Later in the day, Haddad Maia won the doubles final with Veronika Kudermetova, 6-3, 6-3 over No.2 seeds Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi. It was Haddad Maia's and Kudermetova's first WTA title together, as well as Haddad Maia's sixth and Kudermetova's seventh overall.

Both had previously won a WTA 1000 doubles title in 2023, Haddad Maia with Victoria Azarenka in Madrid and Kudermetova with Liudmila Samsonova in Dubai.

SportsLigue