In 2023, Beatriz Haddad Maia progressed to her first Grand Slam semifinal, cracked the top 10, and inspired her country.
"It's massive. I just saw now she was on the front page of the biggest newspaper in Brazil. A huge photo,” former Brazilian pro Andre Sa told ausopen.com, after Haddad Maia reached the last four at Roland Garros.
“It's a reference that the kids need... It makes a big difference to have someone having those kind of results, because it makes you believe you can as well.
“All kinds of little girls are definitely going to start playing in Brazil, seeing what she's doing here and what she's accomplished.
"Not only that, but she's a great person. Very easy going, accessible. She's really nice. The family's nice. She knows her role as a role model and as an athlete, so she's always available to the kids, she's always being nice to fans.
“She's a complete package.”
Sa trained at the same Brazilian academy as Haddad Maia when she was an emerging talent. As a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist himself, he knows just how much Grand Slam success resonates in their country.
With a population of more than 200 million, Brazil has a huge, passionate fanbase – and Haddad Maia is tapping into it.
Lifestyle magazine GQ Brazil even named her their ‘Woman of the Year’.
The accolade came shortly after she ended the season on a high with a compelling victory at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.
The rankings boost with that victory – she shot up from 19th to 11th – helped her qualify the Brazilian team for a second straight year at the United Cup. She is joined in the squad by men’s singles No.1 Thiago Seyboth Wild, doubles veteran Marcelo Melo, and Felipe Meligeni Alves and Carolina Alves, two of her teammates from 2023.
Now, Haddad Maia turns her attention to representing her country at the mixed teams event, a format in which she thrives.
TICKETS: Support Team Brazil at United Cup 2024 in Perth
When you add her two singles wins at United Cup 2023 to her Billie Jean King Cup performances, her overall representative record is 30 wins to just 11 losses.
Those impressive numbers might be influenced by the fact she is aware of the impact she can have when playing in Brazilian colours.
“My dream is not only to be No.1 in the world, not to only win a Grand Slam, is (also) to make a difference in someone else life,” she explained.
“I know my responsibility. Being Brazilian, South American person, I always work as hard as I can to try to make the difference and help the kids and the players who want to be one day the top tennis players as well.”
Team Brazil finds itself in Group A in Perth, along with Poland and Spain.
PERTH: United Cup City Spotlight
This sets up thrilling Roland Garros rematches for Haddad Maia when she faces Sara Sorribes Tormo – who she beat in an epic fourth-round clash – and Iga Swiatek, who ultimately stopped her breakout run in a tense semifinal.
Brazil’s match-up with Spain kicks off the 2024 competition at RAC Arena on 29 December.
