Beatriz Haddad Maia: The Brazilian Tennis Star’s Journey to Roland-Garros Semi-Finals

2023-06-07 12:16:03

We now know the posters for the last four of the women’s draw at the Roland-Garros tournament. After Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and Czech Karolina Muchova, Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia and Polish Iga Swiatek emerged victorious from their respective quarter-finals on Wednesday June 7.

  • The beautiful story of Beatriz Haddad Maia
Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (right) shakes hands with Tunisian Ons Jabeur following her victory in the Roland-Garros quarter-finals on June 7, 2023.

She created the surprise. Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, 14e world player, validated her place for the semi-finals of Roland-Garros, putting an end at the same time to the course of the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 7e world, Wimbledon and US Open finalist last year. The native of Sao Paulo won in three sets – 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 – on a Philippe-Chatrier court bathed in sunshine.

At 27, Haddad Maia is the first Brazilian to access this stage of the Parisian Grand Slam since the start of the Open era, she who had never managed to pass the second round of a Major until then. She signed the biggest feat of her career, hampered by four operations and a ten-month suspension for testing positive for anabolics in July 2019. Her lawyers had at the time succeeded in proving that it was an error of the pharmacy which provided him with food supplements.

“I am very proud of myself”blew the interested party, incredulous, following 2 h 29 min of the match.

  • Iga Swiatek, always in control
Poland's Iga Swiatek (left) and American Coco Gauff following their Roland-Garros quarter-final on Wednesday June 7.

The poster looked like deja vu: that of the 2022 final. Like last year, Iga Swiatek dismissed Coco Gauff in two sets (6-4, 6-2). The Polish, defending champion and world No. 1, was more solid and consistent once morest an American full of desire and offensive, but who rushed and lacked lucidity in important moments.

“The quarter-finals are sometimes the most difficult matches. Even though she is young [19 ans], she already has experience. I’m happy to be in the semi-finals “Commented Iga Swiatek, on the court, following his victory. The 22-year-old player, who had to give up in the quarter-finals of the Rome tournament a week before the start of Roland-Garros (pain in the right thigh), seems to be resuming her cruising speed: no set lost in five games and only 5:39 am spent on the court.

She who has already won the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup twice (last year and in 2020) is now aiming for a third Porte d’Auteuil final. For that, he will have to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia. The Brazilian won their only previous confrontation (6-4, 3-6, 7-5), in Toronto (Canada), in August 2022.

The World with AFP

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