In a gruelling match on Sunday, Simona Halep defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3 2-6 6-3 to win the Canadian Open and put an end to the Colombian’s unstoppable Toronto run.
Significant victories for Simona Halep and Pablo Carreno Busta in Canada
Beginning the final match with four double faults and being broken, Halep continued to struggle with her serving from her semifinal victory. She then lost the match 3-0.
But the Romanian changed her strategy in response, forcing the Brazilian into longer rallies to win six straight games. She then wrapped off the opening set with a crushing forehand winner, lifting her fist as the cheering audience erupted in appreciation.
Haddad Maia won the second set handily but faltered in the third set, hitting a wide forehand that Halep took advantage of to take a 4-1 lead that she would not give up.
Haddad Maia dominated the second set but faltered in the final, hitting a poor forehand wide to give Halep a 4-1 advantage she would not surrender.
Haddad Maia’s service return struck the net on match point amid the Canadian city’s beautiful sky, giving the two-time Grand Slam champion her seventh WTA 1000 championship.
Pablo Carreno Busta claimed that winning the Canadian Masters on Sunday gave him the largest confidence boost of his career and greatly increased his self-belief for the rest of the season.
Haddad Maia’s amazing tournament run came to an end with the defeat. On her way to the final, she defeated Belinda Bencic, the gold winner from the Tokyo Olympics, world number one Iga Swiatek, and local favourite Leylah Fernandez.
In the ATP 1000 tournament in Montreal, which is a part of the U.S. Open Series leading up to the year’s last Grand Slam, the unseeded Spaniard defeated Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 6-3 6-3 to win.