Beatriz Haddad Maia, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1996, grew up inspired by Gustavo Kuerten`s legendary Roland Garros victories. Kuerten, a three-time French Open champion, famously drew a heart on the clay during his final triumph in 2001.
“Every Brazilian who grew up playing tennis knows about Roland Garros and Guga’s wins,” Haddad Maia mentioned in an interview at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. “Most tennis courts in Brazil are clay, so we are very familiar with this surface.”
She added, “I really enjoy playing on clay. The higher bounce allows for longer rallies, and as a lefty, it suits my game. This part of the year is a great opportunity for me to elevate my play.”
Haddad Maia faced a tough first-round challenge in Stuttgart against No. 7 seed Emma Navarro. This demonstrates the high level of competition, with two Top 20 players competing in the opening round.
With a career record of 30-25 on clay, Haddad Maia hopes to rediscover the confidence she had last fall during the European clay season. Last year, she reached the final in Cleveland, the quarterfinals at the US Open, and won the WTA 500 title in Seoul, achieving a 12-2 win-loss record during that period.
However, despite reaching the third round at the Australian Open in January, this year has been challenging. Haddad Maia believes hard work is the key to overcoming these difficulties.
“There have been times when my level of play wasn`t optimal,” she admitted. “For me, the solution has always been to work diligently, stay focused on the present, and maintain the positive attitude that has characterized my career.”
She continued, “It`s about having a resilient mindset, staying true to myself, and focusing on what I can control. I`m not exceptionally gifted; I understand that I need to work hard to create opportunities for myself.”
This approach worked well in 2023 when Haddad Maia had an impressive clay court season. After reaching the quarterfinals in Stuttgart and Rome, she achieved her best Grand Slam result by reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Last year in Madrid, Haddad Maia reached the quarterfinals, defeating Navarro on the way, before losing to Iga Swiatek in three sets.
Haddad Maia holds a 2-1 advantage in her head-to-head record against Navarro, with both of her victories against Navarro coming on red clay, including a win in Madrid last year and another at the Strasbourg Open in 2024.
Considering they sometimes practice together, including recently in Merida, Mexico, there are likely to be few surprises when they play on Tuesday.
“It will definitely be a difficult match,” Haddad Maia acknowledged. “Navarro had a fantastic year last year after coming from college. It’s encouraging to see players improve and raise the overall standard of competition.”
“I will focus on playing my best and see if it’s enough this time.”
Currently ranked No. 17, Haddad Maia aims to break into the Top 10 again, a goal she achieved after her Roland Garros semifinal appearance two years ago, and to maintain her fitness.
“Clay court tennis is a very different game,” Haddad Maia concluded. “I have positive feelings and good memories on this surface. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming challenges.”
Rupert Caldwell