Milestone Match: Haddad Maia Tops Wozniacki for Maiden US Open QF

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, September 2, 2024

NEW YORK—Beatriz Haddad Maia sparked surround sound to Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Brazilian fans serenaded Haddad Maia with a sing-song soccer chant of “Ole! Ole! Ole! Bea! Bea!”

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Tuning up her game in the decisive set, Haddad Maia muted Caroline Wozniacki’s comeback bid 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to become the first Brazilian woman to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Hall of Famer Maria Bueno 56 years ago.

The legendary Maria Bueno won four U.S. National Championships between 1959 and 1966, including a straight-sets victory over American standout Carole Caldwell Graebner in the 1964 final.

It’s a milestone moment for both women.

The 22nd-seeded Haddad Maia is the first South American left-handed woman in Open Era history to advance to the last eight in New York in what may well have been former world No. 1 Wozniacki’s final US Open match.

“It’s very special to hear that—I didn’t know before the match,” Haddad Maia said of becoming the first Brazilian woman since Maria Bueno to reach the quarterfinals. “I just try to work hard every single day in my life. Me and my team and my family worked very hard for this moment.

“It’s a privilege for me to be here to not only representing Brazil, but South America [and] the left ones.”

Asked about fans chanting her name afterward, an emotional Haddad Maia shed tears reflecting on that support.

“I’ll try to hold the emotions until the end of the match,” Haddad Maia said. “It’s very special to me. Brazil is a big country. I know how many people are cheering for me. I feel this support. I’m very happy to be this person who represents women’s sport.”

Two-time US Open finalist Wozniacki fought hard until the final ball and departed to a rousing ovation of respect from Armstrong fans.

In her 15th Flushing Meadows appearance, the 34-year-old Wozniacki, who began the day as the oldest singles player standing, converted just three of her 14 break-point chances. In contrast, Haddad Maia was five of eight on break point conversions.

“First of all Caroline is such a fighter, I respect her a lot, her career is amazing,” Haddad Maia said. “She reached No. 1, won a lot of titles. I remember when I started to play professional she was already on top. I understand it’s not television, it’s real. I’m very happy because I respect her and I know it was a very tough battle.”

Following this defeat, Wozniacki told the media while she hasn’t made a final decision on her competitive future, she will assess how her body responds in the weeks to come.

“I think my body and making sure that it’s 100% and I can stay healthy I think is the main thing,” Wozniacki said. “That’s the biggest challenge at this point. I think that’s the biggest thing really. To be able to compete every single day is not easy, and to feel good every single day is not easy.

The owner of 30 career titles, Wozniacki said she believes she can compete with the best in the world for a match, the challenge is putting seven wins together required to win a Grand Slam.

“I know that I can compete against the best players, I know I can beat the best players, but I also know that, you know, to win a tournament you need to win five, six, seven matches in a row, and that’s where sometimes it gets a little hard,” Wozniacki said. “That’s something that, you know, my body has struggled with this year.

“But at the end of the day, I’m proud of how I have been fighting. I give it my all every single time. That’s really all you can do. I’m proud of that.”

Pouncing on mid-court balls, the Brazilian broke three times in row bursting out to a 5-1 lead. Haddad Maia hammered an ace out wide ending the 55-minute opener in which she hit 11 winners to 8 for Wozniacki and saved five of six break points.

In the second set, Wozniacki was playing down the line with more confidence and extending points. The Dane drew a double fault to break for 3-1 then held at 30 confirming the break for a 4-1 second-set lead.

Showing her speed and ball-striking, Wozniacki raced right and smacked a superb running forehand drive down the line for set point. Wozniacki closed the second to force a final set.

After Wozniacki won the second set, Haddad Maia left the court to reset.

That break helped the 28-year-old Brazilian, who came back refreshed and assertive.

The 2023 Roland Garros semifinalist Haddad Maia won 12 of the first 14 points to burst out to a 3-0 lead in the final set.

Reaching back, the left-hander lashed her fifth ace out wide to wrap a love hold and extend to 3-0.

Picking on the former Australian Open champion’s weaker forehand wing, Haddad Maia drew a netted forehand holding for 4-1.

Fine net work helped Haddad Maia sustain her lead. A pair of volleys preceded a forehand drive volley winner as Haddad Maia held firm raising her Wilson racquet to her box for 5-2.

There was barely an empty seat in Armstrong Stadium as Wozniacki worked through a tense deuce hold for 3-5 forcing the Brazilian to serve it out.

A Wozniacki forehand clung to the top of the tape for a moment before dribbling over on her side. Haddad Maia overshot the baseline with a forehand falling into a 15-30 hole.

A backhand drive down the line helped Haddad Maia get to match point at the two hour, 33-minute mark.

In a stirring 20-shot rally Wozniacki ran down everything then reversed course cracking a backhand winner down the line to draw even at deuce that left Haddad Maia waving at air.

That point left Wozniacki leaning over her racquet sucking in deep gulps of air. Haddad Maia struggled to recover too, hitting a double fault to face break point. The Brazilian saved it with a wide serve.

A weary Wozniacki missed her trademark two-hander long as Haddad Maia gained a second match point. Wozniacki saved a second match point on an error. Haddad Maia moved forward saving break point with a smash.

An accomplished doubles player, Haddad Maia again attacked behind a forehand blocking a volley down the line for a third match point.

Spinning in a soft, shallow serve, Haddad Maia closed when Wozniacki netted a backhand return.

Wozniacki walked off to a rousing ovation, while Haddad Maia moves into a Wednesday quarterfinal against 2023 US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova.

Muchova won 23 of 28 first-serve points stopping fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3, on Armstrong Stadium Court.

Muchova improved to 6-1 in Grand Slam fourth-round matches advancing to her sixth career Grand Slam quarterfinal.

World No. 52 Muchova has not dropped a set in wins over American Katie Volynets, four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, Anastasia Potapova and Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist Paolini.

Muchova is 3-0 lifetime vs. Haddad Maia, including a 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 win in Cincinnati last summer.

“Against Bea, we played I think last year I guess as well,” Muchova said. “Maybe we played in Cincinnati very tough battle, three sets. She’s a big fighter, lefty.”