Halep home in 24th title win, returns to Top 10
SIMONA Halep has returned to the WTA Tour Top 10 after winning her 24th career title at the National Bank Open in Toronto. In what was her 18th career WTA 1000 final, Halep defeated in-form Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets, 6-3 2-6 6-3 in two hours and 16 minutes to rise up inside the Top 10 and reach number six in the world.
Halep won 65 per cent of her first serve points off a 64 per cent clip, and while she did serve nine double faults, she won 15 of her 22 points off her second serve otherwise. Breaking five times to four – the last of which proved crucial in the final set – the Romanian 15th seed was able to shake off the determined Brazilian who had reached the Top 20.
“It’s never easy to play against [Haddad Maia],” Halep said post-match. “She beat me a few weeks ago. … I knew that it was going to be a good challenge and a good fight. “So it’s been a battle today, and I’m really happy that I could actually be stronger in the important moments.”
PCB secures first ATP 1000 title in Montreal
Pablo Carreno Busta broke through for a historic title in Montreal, defeating eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz in a come-from-behind three-set win. Dropping the first set, Carreno Busta came back to win 3-6 6-3 6-3 in an hour and 45 minutes. The unseeded Spaniard weathered 18 aces off the Pole’s racquet, serving four himself and winning an impressive 73 and 71 per cent of his first and second serve points from a 65 per cent clip. He also took control off the eighth seed’s second serve, winning 16 of 23 points.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be a Masters 1000 winner,” he said post-match. “It’s the best title of my career for sure and I don’t know how I’m feeling in this moment.
“I know that during all the week we worked very hard, also the weeks before. It’s very important to be very positive all the time. It’s not my best season this year. I lost some matches that probably other seasons I didn’t lose, but I just tried to continue believing in my team, in myself and in my game.”
AROUND THE TOUR RESULTS:
Montreal – ATP 1000 | Hard
Final:
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated [8] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3-6 6-3 6-3
Toronto – WTA 1000 | Hard
Final:
[15] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) 6-3 2-6 6-3
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Alcaraz storms past Safiullin into Olympic quarter finals
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Czeched out: It’s Schmiedl-ova for Wimbledon champ
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Spaniard shocks Wimbledon defending champion
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