French Open 2023: Beatriz Haddad Maia has clinched another comeback victory at Roland Garros, taking down seventh seed Ons Jabeur this time in three sets, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1. With this win, Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman since 1968 to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. The 14th-seeded player looked rusty at the start of the match on Court Philippe Chatrier but quickly got into rhythm and won the third set in a dominant fashion. Up next for the Brazilian is Iga Swiatek or Coco Gauff.
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The 27-year-old Brazilian started the deciding set with a double break and a 3-0 lead. A frustrated Jabeur flipped her racket in the air after sending an easy backhand wide on a break-point opportunity while down 4-1. Haddad Maia won the game and served out the match, putting her hand on her cap almost in disbelief after Jabeur sailed a forehand long on the second match point.
“I had to be patient. She’s one of the best players in the world,” Haddad Maia said on court. “Not easy to play against her. She’s tricky sometimes.”
Jabeur, a Tunisian who was the runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year, used drop shots effectively early in the match but in the end had more unforced errors (42) than winners (38).
“I always believed that the match (would be) long,” Haddad Maia said. “That was the key. I was trying to keep my game.”
Haddad Maia is the first Brazilian woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros in the Open era. Maria Bueno reached the last four at the 1966 French Open and made the 1968 U.S. Open semifinals.
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