Haddad Maia aims at another clay-court rise

Beatriz Haddad Maia was in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a year after Countryman Gustavo Kuerten became professional – and in the year before he illuminated Paris by winning his first title at Roland Garros.

“Guga” Kuerten would be crowned with the French Open Champion three times in five years and cut a memorable heart in the red clay on the way to his last victory in 2001.

Stuttgart: Drawing | Scores | Game | Tournament

“We all in Brazil, we are heard by Roland Garros and Guga and the victories,” said Haddad Maia, Haddad Maia said to wtatentis.com On Monday from Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. “Most of the dishes we have are Clay Courts, and we are more used to playing on this surface.

“I really like to play on Clay. The ball jumps a little more. We have rally. I can also play as a left. It is a very big moment of the year that I can improve my game.”

It will be tested immediately in Stuttgart in Stuttgart with a night game depicted against No. 7 Sowing Emma Navarro. How invited is this field? These are two top 20 players in a game in the first round.

Haddad Maia, 30-25 for her career on Clay, hopes that two months will bring back the trust that she has borne to European Clay last autumn. The 28 -year -old Haddad Maia was a finalist in Cleveland, a quarter -finalist at the US Open and a champion at the WTA 500 event in Seoul and won 12 out of 14 games in this period.

After this had come to the third round at the Australian Open in January, it was a continuing fight this year. Working Harddad Maia always existed.

“There were moments when I didn’t play my best tennis,” she said. “For me, the key was always to work hard, to stay in the present, to have a positive mentality that I did in my career.

“The mentality of being hard. Try to be myself. To control things that I can control and not think so to control things that I can’t do. I am not like a brilliant person. I know that I have to work very hard to create opportunities.”

This was exactly what happened in 2023 when Haddad Maia put together a remarkable run on red tone. After reaching the quarter -finals in Stuttgart, she agreed with Rome – and then fell into the semi -finals in Roland Garros. It was her best Grand Slam result so far.

Last year, Haddad Maia in Madrid came to the neighborhood before defeating Navarro on the way before lost a three-set match against IGA Swiatek.

In fact, Haddad Maia Navarro leads 2-1 in her head, and both victories of the Brazilian came to Red Clay within one month. Together with her victory in Madrid last year, she also defeated Navarro at 2024 Strasbourg.

There should be no big surprises on Tuesday. Haddad Maia and Navarro sometimes practice together, most recently in February in Merida, Mexico.

“Sure is a hard game,” said Haddad Maia. “She had a great year last year. She came from college and it is nice to see that girls improved and increase the level.

“I will try to work very hard to bring my game and see if it works again.”

Haddad Maia is currently number 17 in the PIF WTA ranking and its goal is to crack the top 10, as she did two years ago after this last four appearance in Paris – and stay healthy.

“Clay, it’s a completely different game,” said Haddad Maia. “I have good feelings, good memories. I am very happy about what is coming.”