Beatriz Haddad Maia, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1996, entered the world a year after her fellow countryman Gustavo Kuerten turned professional, and just before he captivated Paris by clinching his inaugural title at Roland Garros.
“Guga” Kuerten went on to become a three-time French Open champion within five years, famously drawing a heart in the red clay during his final victory in 2001.
“Every Brazilian, we grew up hearing about Roland Garros, about Guga and his triumphs,” Haddad Maia mentioned from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. “Most of our courts are clay, and we are more accustomed to this surface.”
“I truly enjoy playing on clay. The ball has a higher bounce, leading to extended rallies. Being a lefty is also advantageous. This period of the year is significant for me to elevate my game.”
Her resolve will be immediately tested in Stuttgart with a prime-time night match against No. 7 seed Emma Navarro. The tournament`s strength is evident as this first-round match features two Top 20 players.
Haddad Maia, with a 30-25 career record on clay, hopes that two months on European clay will reignite the confidence that propelled her successful run last fall. At 28, she reached the final in Cleveland, the quarterfinals at the US Open, and secured a championship at the WTA 500 event in Seoul, winning 12 out of 14 matches during that period.
However, following her third-round appearance at the Australian Open in January, this year has presented ongoing challenges. Haddad Maia emphasizes that hard work remains the constant solution.
“There have been times when my performance wasn`t optimal,” she admitted. “For me, the key has always been consistent hard work, staying present, and maintaining the positive mindset that has defined my career.”
“The mindset is about striving for toughness and authenticity, focusing on controllable aspects and avoiding worry over the uncontrollable. I`m not exceptionally talented; I recognize the necessity of intense effort to create opportunities.”
This approach proved successful in 2023 when Haddad Maia had an exceptional run on red clay. Following a quarterfinal result in Stuttgart, she repeated this achievement in Rome and then remarkably reached the semifinals at Roland Garros, marking her best Grand Slam performance to date.
Last year, Haddad Maia reached the quarterfinals in Madrid, even defeating Navarro on her path, before losing to Iga Swiatek in three sets.
In their head-to-head record, Haddad Maia holds a 2-1 lead over Navarro, with both of the Brazilian`s victories occurring within a month on red clay. Besides her Madrid win last year, she also defeated Navarro at Strasbourg in 2024.
There should be few surprises on Tuesday; Haddad Maia and Navarro occasionally train together, most recently in Merida, Mexico, in February.
“Certainly, it’s a challenging match,” Haddad Maia acknowledged. “Navarro had a remarkable year last year, transitioning from college tennis. It’s encouraging to see players improve and elevate the competition level.”
“I will strive to bring my best game and hope for a positive outcome again.”
Haddad Maia is currently ranked No. 17 in the PIF WTA Rankings, and her ambition is to re-enter the Top 10, a feat she achieved two years ago after her Paris semifinal, and to maintain her health.
“Clay court tennis is a distinctly different game,” Haddad Maia stated. “I have positive feelings and fond memories. I am very enthusiastic about what lies ahead.”
