Brazil's Haddad Maia wins second final in a row after Zhang retires

Haddad Maia was leading in the first set when Shuai indicated that she did can no longer continue playing.

Both players came through the semifinals after defeating Romanian opponents. Haddad-Maia beat Simona Halep while Zhang beat Sorana Cirstea in a washed-out event last Saturday.

Haddad Maia has now won her last 10 grass-court matches. Last June 12, she also won the Nottingham Open.

These successes came after 2020 when she was banned from playing for 10 months due to a doping ban. A panel later accepted that the sample tested was contaminated but the ban stayed in place.

Her recent win should see her break into the Top 30 of the world rankings and she is expected to play in Wimbledon.

During the presentation ceremony, she said, “We came from a title last week and it wasn’t enough.

“They were pushing me, trying to break the limits and be stronger every single day. I wouldn’t have this trophy without them.”

“Nobody knows what we went through the last two years. It was something that I couldn’t explain. One year ago I was playing a final in a (bottom tier) 25K (tournament).

“If I didn’t have this power, this determination, it would be impossible. I’m really happy that I’m here with everybody here watching me play. Everything I passed through in my life just made me feel stronger.”

Zhang made a better start in the first round but after the ninth game, she called for a trainer for a neck injury. It was later announced that she was not continuing.

“It was really tough to play after two-and-a-half-hour singles and also I played already seven matches this week,” Zhang said.

“I’m really tired. Really tough to play indoor hard court and back to grass. My body is not working anymore. Sorry.”