For the second week running,
Beatriz Haddad Maia is leaving a WTA Tour event with the trophy having won Nottingham last week and Birmingham this week.
After rain washed out Saturday's scheduled semifinals, both players played three-set matches on Sunday morning to reach the final. Eighth-seeded Zhang came from a set down in beating Sorana Cirstea, while Haddad Maia outlasted Simona Halep for her ninth straight win. Speaking after the match, Haddad Maia praised her opponent:
"I can't say enough ... You deserve what you had during this week.
Every single day last week, you were enjoying every day. When we were
warming up, we were playing doubles, you were making me feel stronger.
You showed me, 'Why not?' We can have friends on the tour. You're a
huge tennis player and a special person. Tennis is something that
passes, but the human side never goes, so congratulations for the person
that you are."
Haddad Maia debut a top 30 ranking for the first time in her a career today. She is 10-0 on grass this year.