Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia won her second title in seven days after Zhang Shuai retired in the final of the WTA Birmingham Classic on Sunday.
Haddad Mai was 5-4 up in the first when her Chinese opponent indicated she could no longer play on. Zhang then retired with a calf injury.
“It feels really good to be a champion again,” said Haddad Mai, who clinched her first WTA title in Pattaya last week. “I have been playing well lately, and I am really happy that I could finish it here.”
Haddad Mai will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the third round of the US Open.
The 26-year-old has yet to get beyond the third round at Wimbledon, but her recent form will leave Haddad Maia hopeful of an improved showing when the last of tennis’s four majors played on grass starts in eight days’ time.
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Haddad Maia, who lost the first two games of the final, was preparing to serve for the first set when Zhang — who had consulted with medical staff during the changeover — walked slowly to the net and hugged her opponent. It was not immediately apparent what the injury was.
