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Match details
Fixture: (14) Simona Halep vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
Date: 20 January 2022
Tournament: Australian Open 2022
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $75,000,000
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Six, Sony Liv
Simona Halep vs Beatriz Haddad Maia preview
14th seed Simona Halep will square off against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round of the 2022 Australian Open on Thursday.
Halep began her quest for a third Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Magdalena Frech. The Romanian was made to work hard, despite what the scoreline might suggest.
The former World No. 1 has been in good form since the start of the season. After struggling with injuries in 2021, she won her 23rd career title at the Melbourne Summer Set in the lead-up to the Australian Open. Given how she's playing at the moment, she's a strong contender for the title.
Beatriz Haddad Maia, meanwhile, had to battle hard to find a way past qualifier Katie Volynets. The match had frequent momentum shifts but the Brazilian managed to hold her nerve to claim a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
With the win, Haddad Maia matched her career-best result at a Grand Slam. She's reached the second round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice before, but never progressed further.
Simona Halep vs Beatriz Haddad Maia head-to-head
The two have played once before, with Halep leading 1-0 in the head-to-head. She defeated the Brazilian 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of 2017 Wimbledon.
Simona Halep vs Beatriz Haddad Maia prediction
Halep enters this contest as the overwhelming favorite. She appears to be back to her best and has put her injury concerns well and truly behind her. But the Romanian must guard against complacency when she faces Haddad Maia, who upset former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova at Indian Wells last year.
Halep struggled a little on serve in her first-round match, getting broken four times. But she made up for it by breaking her opponent's serve seven times and winning 54% of receiving points.
Haddad Maia has the advantage of being a lefty, which makes her a tricky player to handle. She likes to dictate play from the baseline and move her opponents around the court. However, she'll find it hard to hit through Halep, whose court coverage remains as impeccable as ever.
The two-time Grand Slam champion should be able to withstand the Brazilian's challenge and advance to the third round.
Prediction: Simona Halep to win in straight sets.
Also check out: Updated WTA WoMen's Tennis Rankings
