Final day in Toronto.
2022 National Bank Open presented by Rogers, a WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard, in Toronto, Canada, 8-14 August 2022.
Defending champion:
Camila Giorgi who defeated Karolina Pliskova (4) 6-3 7-5
Final:
Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil) v Simona Halep (15) (Romania)
The players met three times previously, once in 2017, when Halep prevailed in the second round at Wimbledon, and twice this year.
Halep won in straight sets in the second round of the Australian Open in January, while Haddad Maia avenged that loss in the semis at Birmingham in June.
Three double faults in Halep’s first service game helped Haddad Maia to a break point.
A fourth double fault handed her the game and a 2-0 lead.
The third game saw Haddad Maia face two break points, and each one was saved by solid serving and a winning forehand. 3-0.
Struggling again on serve in the fifth game, Haddad Maia was down 15-40. She fought back to deuce, but eventually was broken, and Halep closed to 2-3. Games were now back on serve.
Halep collected another break of serve, and after consolidating had won five successive games to hold a 5-3 advantage.
Serving to stay in the set, Haddad Maia contributed two unforced errors and a double fault, leaving Halep with two set points.
She only required one, as the set was clinched with a sizzling backhand. 6-3.
Set two began with Halep serving. She led 30-15 but then Haddad Maia hit a backhand return winner, a forehand pass at the net, and on break point a forehand down the line which Halep could barely touch.
Haddad Maia saved a break point in the following game and led 2-0.
The fortunes had certainly changed as Halep dropped a second straight serve and the Brazilian player stretched her lead to 3-0.
No more break points faced by either player for the set, in fact not even taken to deuce.
Haddad Maia served out the set 6-2. A decider needed.
Halep saved two break points in the opening game of set three, then converted a break point in the next game for a 2-0 lead.
Game two was the longest of the match in points played. Halep saved three break points, and had a game point of her own, but a fourth break point was converted with a backhand winner from Haddad Maia which just caught the back of the baseline.
After battling back on serve, Haddad Maia dropped her next service game and Halep was in charge once more 3-1.
The pair traded love games on serve in games six and seven, leaving Halep a game away from victory.
Serving at 2-5 to stay in the match, Haddad Maia held strong, forcing Halep to win it with her delivery.
A forehand cross court passing shot on the first point set the tone and Halep raced to 40-0 and three match points.
One was saved, but when Haddad Maia returned the next into the net, it was over.
Simona Halep won the final 6-3 2-6 6-3, collecting her 24th title from 42 finals, and propelling her back into the top ten to #6.
Beatriz Haddad Maia moves into the top twenty at #16.
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