CANADIAN OPEN: HADDAD MAIA TO BATTLE SIMONA HALEP IN FINAL SHOWDOWN

Haddad Maia was in sterling form in the second semi- final of the WTA Masters in Canada as she brushed off Czech’s Karolina Pliskova to reach her first WTA final in Canada. She had produced two excellent matches, breaking the big serving Czech twice to capture the first set.

The experienced Pliskova responded with intense pressure and aggressive play in the second set, which did put her in a 5-2 lead but the Brazilian weathered the storm to make a comeback to force a tie break.

The unseeded Maia who defeated Leylah Fernandez and former World No.1 Iga Swiatek at the Tokyo Olympics en route to her first WTA 1000 event final was pressured by Pliskova who saved a match point in the breaker.

But unfortunately her opponent – Czech could not sustain the opportunities that came her way and ended the hard fought affair to the advantage of the Brazilian 6-4 7-6 (7). With the win Haddad will clash with World No. 15, Halep in the final in what some pundits predict could go the way of Haddad, a repeat of their semi- final clash in Birmingham Classic earlier this year, in which the Brazilian also won the lone WTA Tournament title.

Haddad, 24, could rise to World No. 16 in the ranking as a result of her third final in 2022 from her current ranking of 24.