In a remarkable turnaround, Beatriz Haddad Maia fought back from a set down to defeat Ons Jabeur, making history as the first Brazilian woman to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros in the open era.
After an intense battle lasting nearly four hours to overcome Sara Sorribes Tormo in the fourth round, the 14th seed faced another challenging task when she lost the opening set to seventh seed Jabeur. However, Haddad Maia displayed resilience and determination, winning a tightly contested second set in a tie-break. In the decisive set, the Brazilian took control and sealed the victory with a score of 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
At the moment of triumph, the 27-year-old Haddad Maia appeared utterly stunned, as she had never advanced beyond the fourth round in a Grand Slam tournament before. Despite this breakthrough, she has achieved impressive results outside of major tournaments and aims to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian Grand Slam champions Gustavo Kuerten and Maria Bueno.
“This is tennis; we work throughout the year to experience these moments,” said Haddad Maia. “I had to remain patient, stay focused, and execute my shots because, as you mentioned, she is a highly skilled player and one of the best in the world. I am incredibly happy and proud of myself and my team today.”
Despite her defeat, Jabeur has already set her sights on her next goal – winning Wimbledon. “I’m hoping to go and get the title at Wimbledon,” said Jabeur, who will begin her grass season with tournaments in Berlin and Eastbourne. “It’s something I’ve always dreamt of and wanted to achieve.”
“I was very close last year, and when I set my mind on something, I know I can do it. So, it’s definitely in my plans. The grass season has already begun in my mind.”
