Roland-Garros: Ons Jabeur surprised by Brazilian Haddad Maia

Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked 14th in the world, created a surprise on Tuesday (June 7th) by beating Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 to qualify for the semifinals of Roland-Garros.

Ons Jabeur and Beatriz Haddad Maia, June 7, 2023. © Pierre RENE-WORMS / RFI

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Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since 1968 on Wednesday (June 7th), when she came back from a set down to defeat Ons Jabeur at Roland Garros.

World No. 14 Haddad Maia won in three sets: 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. It ended the run of Jabeur, 7th in the world, finalist of Wimbledon and the US Open last year, and still looking for his first Major. Since his debut at Roland Garros, Ons Jabeur reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 2023.

« I'm very proud of myself."

The sensation is sizeable, since Beatriz Haddad Maia had never managed to pass the second round of a Grand Slam before her adventure Porte d'Auteuil.

The native of Sao Paulo signs the greatest feat of arms of her career, hampered by four operations and a ten-month suspension for positive anabolic control in July 2019. His lawyers had at the time, managed to prove that it was an error of the pharmacy that provided him with dietary supplements.

« 

I am very proud of myself, "breathed Haddad Maia at the microphone of the Philippe-Chatrier court after his victory. The player looked incredulous after winning her match ball, thus concluding the game in 2 hours 29 minutes.

Much less than her previous match, completed in nearly four hours (3 h 51 min) against Spain's Sara Sorribes, which made her the third longest women's singles match in the history of the tournament.

Authoritative in the first set, Ons Jabeur gradually lost the thread of his match, abusing cushioning to take advantage of the forward movement not effective enough of his opponent.

«

You have to be patient, it's not easy to keep up the pace. I tried to stay focused on my game and not think about his," said Haddad Maia.

The Brazilian managed to turn the match around in the deciding game of the second set, before taking Jabeur's serve early in the third, to fly to victory.

With AFP

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