Brazilian tennis is still alive at Roland Garros. This Sunday (29), Beatriz Haddad Maia from São Paulo and Bruno Soares from Minas Gerais qualified for the quarterfinals of the mixed doubles bracket of the Grand Slam held in Paris (France), as well as the partnership between Rafael Matos and Spaniard David Vega Hernández in the men’s doubles.
Bia and Bruno faced Indian Sania Mirza and Croatian Ivan Dodig. Driven by the victory over the number one seeded duo, formed by Chinese Zhang Shuai and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, three days ago, the Brazilians needed an hour and 15 minutes to win by two sets to zero, with partials of 6/4. and 6/3.
They will play again this Monday (30), from 6 am (Brasilia time), against the German Kevin Krawietz and the North American Nicole Melichar-Martinez. The clash for a place in the semifinals will be the first on court 14 of the Roland Garros complex.
Number 21 in the doubles ranking of the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP), Bruno wants the seventh Grand Slam trophy of his career, being the first at Roland Garros. The 40-year-old from Minas Gerais has won the Australian Open twice (men’s and mixed doubles, both in 2016) and the US Open four times (men’s doubles in 2016 and 2020 and mixed in 2012 and 2014).
Runner-up in this year’s Australian Open women’s doubles, 25-year-old Bia is aiming for an unprecedented title. The paulista is living the best phase of her career, in 33rd place in the doubles ranking of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and 48th in the singles.
Another grand slam champion of his career, Rafael and partner Vega Hernández took two hours and 20 minutes to defeat Belgians Jander Gille and Joran Vliege by two sets to one, partial 6/4, 3/6 and 7. /6 (10/6). The 26-year-old from Rio Grande do Sul occupies the 52nd place in the ATP men’s doubles ranking, six places ahead of the Spaniard.
Rafael and Vega Hernández also return to play this Monday, for the quarterfinals, against Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer and Salvadoran Marcelo Arevalo, seeded number 12 in the competition. The match will be the third of block 14, with a forecast to start around 9 am.
Brazil has not had a champion at Roland Garros since 2015, when Marcelo Melo from Minas Gerais won the men’s doubles tournament alongside Ivan Dodig. In mixed doubles, the fast is even greater. The last conquest was the carioca Thomas Koch, in 1975, with the Uruguayan Fiorella Bonicelli. Gustavo Kuerten, aka Guga, from Santa Catarina, is the Brazilian tennis player who has won the French Grand Slam the most. There were three titles, all in singles, in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
