By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday June 19, 2022
In a season defined by Iga Swiatek’s 35-match winning streak, Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia has a streak of her own to boast about.
Last week’s champion at Nottingham, the 26-year-old claimed the Birmingham title on Sunday, thanks to wins over Simona Halep (6-3, 2-6, 6-4) and China’s Zhang Shuai (5-4 RET).
Haddad Maia has now won ten matches on the trot and is shaping up to be a contender at Wimbledon, which begins on June 27.
Last week in Nottingham, Haddad Maia proved that becoming the first Brazilian woman to win a grass court title in over 50 years was no fluke. She won her maiden title, taking out American Alison Riske in the final.
The World No.32 opened her bid in Birmingham with an upset of two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets, then knocked off third-seeded Camila Giorgi in the quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-2.
Staring at daunting double duty on Sunday after rain washed out semifinal action on Saturday, the southpaw did not flinch. She topped 2019 Wimbledon champion Halep on Sunday, rallying from 3-1 down in the final set to close out the contest in 2:14.
In the final she led 5-4 and was preparing to serve for the opening set when Zhang retired with an injury.
Haddad Maia entered this season with a 2-3 lifetime record on grass. She is now 10-0 on the season and 12-3 lifetime on the surface.