The Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia gave the big hit at the Canadian Open by eliminating the Polish Iga Swiatek, number 1 in the world, on Thursday to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 in Toronto.
Haddad Maia achieved this historic victory for her career with partials of 6-4, 3-6 and 7-5 in three hours of an intense duel, her first celebration of her career over a current number 1 on the planet.
The Brazilian, currently 24th in the world ranking, won her first WTA titles this year at the Nottingham and Birmingham tournaments in June, and took another step in confirming her evolution on the way to the elite of women’s tennis.
Bia completes the UPSET ?
?? Beatriz Haddad Maia shocks World No.1 Swiatek 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals! #NBO22 pic.twitter.com/PHsqHcal94
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2022
For her part, the Pole, who was stunned by France’s Caroline Garcia in the quarterfinals in Warsaw last week, was playing her first hard-surface tournament since lifting the title in Miami in April.
Since then, he had taken his tally of titles this season to six, including Roland Garros.
Swiatek now drops her 2022 WTA 1000 tournament record to 23-1, after events in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Rome. Additionally, she was looking for her 50th win and her 10th quarterfinal performance of the season.
The Brazilian, meanwhile, will now go to the quarterfinals against the winner of the match between the Swiss Belinda Bencic, twelfth seed, and the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, eighth seed.
Haddad became the first Brazilian to enter the quarterfinals of this Canadian event after matching Niege Dias’ round of 16 performance in 1987.
The one born in Sao Paulo 26 years ago now dominates the personal best against the Polish 1-0, in addition to leaving her mark at 5-6 against ‘top-10’ players.
