Sports

Haddad wins Birmingham final

AP

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.

Both players had come through tough semi-finals earlier on Sunday after rain had washed out Saturday's play at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, central England.

Haddad Maia has now won her last 10 grass-court matches, having lifted the trophy at the Nottingham Open on June 12.

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.

jabeur takes Berlin title

Top seed Ons Jabeur won the final of the WTA tournament in Berlin on Sunday after Olympic champion Belinda Bencic was forced to retire after twisting her left ankle.

Bencic slipped at the end of the first set and despite receiving treatment, she eventually retired with Jabeur leading 6-3, 2-1.

Jabeur had raced into a 3-0 lead after just nine minutes before going on to win the third WTA title of her career after wins on grass last year in Birmingham and on clay in Madrid last month.

"From what I know of Belinda, she would have taken me to three sets today," said Jabeur, who wished her opponent a speedy recovery with Wimbledon due to start in a week's time.

"The most important thing for me is that she is okay."