Beatriz Haddad Maia, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1996, grew up inspired by Gustavo Kuerten`s triumphs at Roland Garros. Kuerten, a Brazilian icon, claimed the French Open title three times, famously drawing a heart on the clay during his victories.
“Growing up in Brazil, everyone heard about Roland Garros and Guga’s wins,” Haddad Maia mentioned at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. “Most courts in Brazil are clay, so we are more accustomed to this surface.”
She added, “I really enjoy playing on clay. The higher bounce and slower pace allow for longer rallies, and being a lefty can be an advantage. This part of the year on clay courts is a great opportunity to elevate my game.”
Haddad Maia faced a tough first-round challenge in Stuttgart against No. 7 seed Emma Navarro in a night match. The high level of competition at the event was evident, with two Top 20 players meeting in the opening round.
With a career record of 30-25 on clay, Haddad Maia hopes the European clay season will help her rediscover the confidence that fueled her strong performance last fall. She reached the final in Cleveland, the quarterfinals at the US Open, and won the WTA 500 event in Seoul, achieving a 12-2 match record during that period.
However, this year has been more challenging after reaching the third round at the Australian Open. Haddad Maia believes hard work remains the key to improvement.
“There have been times when my level wasn`t at its peak,” she admitted. “For me, the solution has always been to work diligently, stay focused on the present, and maintain a positive mindset, as I have throughout my career.”
She continued, “It’s about having a resilient mentality and staying true to myself. I focus on controlling what I can and not worrying about what’s beyond my control. I’m not a genius; I know I need to work hard to create opportunities.”
This approach proved successful in 2023 when Haddad Maia had an impressive clay-court season. Following a quarterfinal appearance in Stuttgart, she repeated that result in Rome and then achieved her best Grand Slam performance by reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Last year in Madrid, Haddad Maia reached the quarterfinals, defeating Navarro before losing to Iga Swiatek in three sets.
Haddad Maia holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Navarro, with both of her wins coming on clay within a month. Besides her Madrid victory last year, she also defeated Navarro in Strasbourg in 2024.
Facing Navarro again, Haddad Maia acknowledged the difficulty. “It will definitely be a tough match,” Haddad Maia stated. “Navarro had an incredible year last year, coming from college. It’s inspiring to see players improve and raise the overall level of competition.”
“I will focus on playing my best and see if it works out again,” she concluded.
Currently ranked No. 17 in the PIF WTA Rankings, Haddad Maia aims to break into the Top 10, a feat she first achieved after her Roland Garros semifinal run two years prior. Her priority is to maintain her health and continue improving.
“Clay court tennis is a very different game,” Haddad Maia reflected. “I have positive feelings and good memories on this surface. I’m excited for the challenges ahead.”
