She created the surprise. Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, 14e world player, validated her place for the semi-finals of Roland-Garros, putting at the same time an end to the course of the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 7e world, Wimbledon and US Open finalist last year. The Sao Paulo native won in three sets – 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 – on Wednesday June 7, 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 at the microphone of the Philippe-Chatrier court after her victory, in disbelief after 2 h 29 min of the match. She will find the Polish number one Iga Swiatek or the American Coco Gauff (6e) in the next turn.