Canadian Open final between Simona Halep & Beatriz Haddad Maia becomes most watched tennis match in ESPN Brazil history, breaks previous record held by Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic

According to a report by Brazilian website Tenisnews, the 2022 Canadian Open final between Simona Halep and Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia is the most viewed tennis match in the history of ESPN Brazil.

The broadcast on the channel had the largest audience on Brazilian TV, and it attracted nearly twice as many viewers (92% more) than rival channel SporTv.

The match surpassed the previous Brazilian record, which was set by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's thrilling match in the 2022 French Open quarterfinals.

After winning the Canadian Open for the third time in her career on Sunday, former World No. 1 Simona Halep regained her place in the top 10 of the WTA Rankings. The 2016 and 2018 winner put a stop to Beatriz Haddad Maia's fairytale run in Toronto with a tenacious 6-3 2-6 6-3 triumph, which gave her a 24th WTA tour singles title.

With the triumph, the former World No. 1 joined Serena Williams, Monica Seles, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova in an exclusive club of players to have won the WTA 1000 event in Canada at least three times.

Also check out: Cincinnati Open 2022 Results

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"I feel like it's a big deal to be back in top 10" - Simona Halep

Simona Halep, who began the week at No. 15 in the rankings, has now risen to No. 6 after just over a year outside the top 10. The Romanian expressed delight at re-entering the top 10 and claimed that she had accomplished the goal she had set for herself at the beginning of the year.

"I've been many years there but now I feel like it’s a big deal to be back in top 10," Halep said. "When I started the year I was not very confident and I set the goal to be, at the end of the year, top 10. And here I am. So it’s a very special moment. I will enjoy it. I will give myself credit. I’m just dreaming for more."

The former World No. 1 expressed happiness at her title win in Toronto while showering her Romanian fans with gratitude for supporting her during her title run.

"It makes it even more special because I really wanted to win it in Toronto as well. Here there are many Romanians and they always come to support me. So I’m really happy that I could also win here," she added.

Simona Halep started her campaign at the 2022 Western and Southern Open by claiming a tough win in her first-round match against Anastasia Potapova, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. She will now lock horns with Veronika Kudermetova in the second round.