Bia Haddad is eliminated by Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros – 06/08/2023 – Sport

Beatriz Haddad Maia’s remarkable campaign in the 2023 edition of the French Open has come to an end. On Thursday afternoon (8), the Brazilian was defeated by the Polish Iga Swiatek by 2 sets to 0, partials of 6/2 and 7/6 (9/7), in two hours and nine minutes, and said goodbye to dispute at Roland Garros in the semifinals.

The 27-year-old from São Paulo was the first person from Brazil to reach this stage in a Grand Slam singles bracket – the series of the four main tennis tournaments – since 2001, when Gustavo Kuerten won his third championship at Roland Garros. In the women’s competition, the quarterfinal barrier had not been broken since 1968, with Maria Esther Bueno, at the US Open.

As had happened on that occasion, the trajectory of the Brazilian was interrupted by the number one seed. In New York, 55 years ago, the North American Billie Jean King won. Now, in Paris, Swiatek displayed his aggressive game, with excellent movement, to advance to the tournament decider for the third time.

At 22, Iga already has two Roland Garros titles, won in 2020 and 2022. She also won the US Open last year and looks set to dominate the circuit. For her fourth Grand Slam trophy, the leader of the world ranking will face on Saturday (2) the 43rd placed on the list, the Czech Karolína Muchová, who beat the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, number two.

Against the favorite, Bia even started well, with four points in a row, breaking the opponent’s serve right away. Swiatek, however, adjusted his game, returned the break soon after and imposed himself with precise blows on the Philippe-Chatrier court. In just over 40 minutes, the first set was finished.

The second partial was more balanced. Haddad served at 3/1. Then, on the 4/4, he had three break chances. The agile opponent –who is known for her excellent left hand, but did more damage with her right– resisted and showed firmness to go to the “tiebreak”. She avoided a set point, serving at 5/6, and closed out the tiebreaker at 9/7.

Despite the defeat, Bia Haddad leaves Paris bigger than it arrived. In the ranking to be released by the WTA, the international association of women’s tennis, she will appear in the best position of her career, in the tenth or in the 11th place. It will depend on the result of the final, as Muchová will overtake it in case of victory.

After a well-deserved rest, the São Paulo native will begin her preparation for the circuit’s grass season, in which she will defend important points. It was at this stage of the “tour”, in 2022, that she won the Nottingham and Birmingham titles. The score obtained on the way to the trophies will expire, and she will need good results to remain in the top 15 of the ranking.

Regardless of the numbers, Beatriz leaves Roland Garros confident. She obtained hard-fought victories (she aggressively saved a “match point” against the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova), memorable ones (the battle of three hours and 51 minutes with the Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo) and quality ones (she beat the great Tunisian Ons Jabeur, number seven in the world ).

It had been more than 20 years since Brazilian tennis fans had nervously stopped to watch a Roland Garros semifinal match. Haddad has talent and personality so that the wait will not exceed two decades again.