She created the surprise. The Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, 14th player in the world, 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, 7th in the world, finalist of Wimbledon and the US Open last year. The native of Sao Paulo 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 greatest 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’m very proud of myself”, breathed the interested party, incredulous after 2h 29min of the match, at the microphone of the Philippe-Chatrier court. She will find the Polish No. 1, Iga Swiatek, or the American Coco Gauff (6th) in the next round.
