Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia (left) poses with the winner's trophy after winning the women's singles final match against China's Zheng Qinwen (right) at the Zhuhai Elite Trophy tennis tournament in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong province, on Oct 29, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

ZHUHAI, China - No. 8 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil beat seventh-seeded Zheng Qinwen of China 7-6 (11), 7-6 (4) to win her third WTA Tour title at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai here on Sunday.

The trophy was Maia's first above WTA 250 level, first on hard courts and first since 2022.

"Today I was trying to be as aggressive as I was during this week," Maia said after the match.

"My mentality was very important. I was trying to be patient in the moments things were not going the way that I wanted," the 27-year-old added.

China's Zheng Qinwen hits a return to Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia (not in photograph) during their women's singles final match of the Zhuhai Elite Trophy tennis tournament in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong province, on Oct 29, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

Maia needed two hours and 51 minutes to overcome China's highest-ranked player Zheng, marking the longest tour-level straight-set match of the season.

In the first set, Zheng drew first blood to lead 3-2, while Maia broke back to level at 4-4. Both players held their services en route to tiebreak, which saw the score seesawed to 10-10. Serving at 11-10 with a third set point, Zheng's first serve abandoned her, allowing Maia to take control of the next two points before converting her fourth set point.

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The second set saw Zheng drop serve in the third game, but the 21-year-old broke back for 3-3, only to double fault twice to lose serve immediately again. With Maia serving for the title at 5-4, Zheng used a single-handed backhand pass hit at full stretch to convert her third break point and level at 5-5.

Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia serves to China's Zheng Qinwen (not in photograph) during their women's singles final match of the Zhuhai Elite Trophy tennis tournament in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong province, on Oct 29, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

Zheng came within two points of the set, leading 6-5 and with 0-30 on Maia's serve. The Brazilian hit a brace of forehands for tiebreak again and won seven of the last nine points from 2-0 down to seal her victory.

Zheng played the whole match with his left leg with bandages and called medical timeout in the second set.

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"I had painkillers before the match. I am proud of myself for completing the match," Zheng said.