Beatrice Smith Maya is still thriving on tennis courts around the world. After defeating Greece’s world number 5 Maria Skari in the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 Championships in Nottingham, UK, she overcame Brazil’s Czech Teresa Martinkova on Saturday morning, in the final of the tournament held on grass. And she will face in the decision, at nine in the morning, Sunday, the American Alison Risk, who defeated the Swiss Victoria Golubic by two sets to 1, and a part of 6/3, 4/6 and 6/3. In addition to the singles final, the Brazilian will still fight for the doubles feud title, alongside China’s Shuai Zhang.
As a result, Pia will enter the top 40 in the WTA rankings next Monday, when the list will be updated by the entity that commands women’s tennis.
At the age of 26, Sao Paulo defeated Czech Teresa Martinkova, number 60 in the world, after the opponent withdrew from the match in the second set. The Brazilian won the first round by 6/3 and won the second by 4/1.
Bea also competed in the doubles tournament in Nottingham. She and China’s Shuai Zhang defeated Japan’s Choko Aoyama and Hao Qing Chan from Taipei, by two sets to zero, by a pair 6/4. Biya and Zhang in the decision, this Sunday, face the partnership formed by American Caroline Dolehead and Romanian Monica Niculescu, who defeated Heisen/Murray Sharan in the other semi-finals by two sets to 1, partial of 4/6, 6/3 and 10/3.
Pia Haddad Maya The Nottingham Tennis Championships semi-finals – Photo: Reuters / Jason Kerndof
Marcelo Melo falls into the semi-finals in the Netherlands
Another Brazilian who was playing over the weekend, Marcelo Melo lost in the semi-finals of the ATP 250 Doubles Championship at S-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. Along with South Africa’s Raven Claassen, he lost to Australians Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell, in two sets to 1 – partials 1/6, 7/5, 10-6.
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