Kessler defies odds, beats Haddad Maia to claim Cleveland Open title

Wildcard McCartney Kessler won the Cleveland Open trophy by edging out Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, the top seed, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 at Jacobs Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. The American was broken in the first game of the second set, but went on to win the next six games, and also came back from 1-3 down in the third.

Kessler, ranked No 98, defeated wildcard Katrina Scott (6-1, 4-6, 6-4), Chinese Xinyu Wang, the No 4 seed (3-6, 6-4, 6-2), Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus (6-4, 6-2) and Russian Anastasia Potapova, the No 5 seed (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) in the previous rounds of the Cleveland tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Haddad Maia, ranked No 23, beat Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic (6-3, 7-5), Spaniard Cristina Bucsa (6-2, 6-1), Frenchwoman Clara Burel (6-2, 6-2) and No 3 seed Katerina Siniakova (6-3, 2-6, 6-2).