Beatriz Haddad Maia, born in Brazil in 1996, grew up as Gustavo Kuerten, a national hero, began his illustrious career, famously winning his first Roland Garros title just before her birth.
Kuerten, known as “Guga,” went on to become a three-time French Open champion, celebrated for his passionate connection with the clay surface, symbolized by drawing a heart on the court during his victories.
Haddad Maia recalls, “Every Brazilian grew up hearing about Roland Garros and Guga`s triumphs. Clay courts are common in Brazil, so we naturally develop our game on this surface.”
She adds, “I enjoy playing on clay. The higher bounce allows for longer rallies, and as a left-hander, it suits my game. This part of the season is a great opportunity for me to elevate my play.”
Her clay season begins in Stuttgart with a challenging first-round night match against Emma Navarro, highlighting the strong competition in the tournament.
Haddad Maia, with a solid 30-25 record on clay, hopes to regain the confidence from last year`s fall season. She reached the final in Cleveland, the quarterfinals at the US Open, and won a WTA 500 title in Seoul, achieving a 12-2 win record during that period.
After reaching the third round of the Australian Open, this year has presented challenges. However, Haddad Maia emphasizes hard work as the key to improvement.
She reflects, “There have been times when my tennis wasn`t at its peak. For me, the solution is always to work diligently, stay focused on the present, and maintain a positive mindset, which has been my approach throughout my career.”
“It`s about having a strong mentality, being true to myself, controlling what I can, and not worrying about what’s beyond my control. I`m not exceptionally talented; I know I need to work hard to create opportunities,” she states.
This hard work paid off in 2023 when Haddad Maia had an impressive clay season. Following a quarterfinal appearance in Stuttgart and Rome, she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros, her best result in a major tournament.
Last year in Madrid, Haddad Maia reached the quarterfinals, defeating Navarro in the process, before losing to Iga Swiatek in a close three-set match.
Haddad Maia holds a 2-1 advantage over Navarro in their head-to-head record, with both of her wins on clay, including Madrid last year and Strasbourg in 2024.
Facing Navarro again, Haddad Maia acknowledges the difficulty, saying, “It will be a tough match. Navarro had a fantastic year after coming from college, and it’s inspiring to see players improve and raise the competition level.”
“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 run two years prior, and maintain her health.
“Clay court tennis is very unique,” Haddad Maia concludes. “I have positive feelings and good memories on this surface. I’m excited for the challenges ahead.”
