In a thrilling day at the WTA 250 SP Open in São Paulo, top seed Beatriz Haddad Maia advanced to the quarter-finals with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over compatriot Laura Pigossi. Haddad Maia, currently ranked 27th in the world, showcased her dominant play on the Quadra Central Maria Esther Bueno, defeating Pigossi in one hour and 38 minutes.
Haddad Maia effectively broke her opponent’s serve four times in the first set, with Pigossi only able to respond once. The Brazilian No. 1 wasted no time, wrapping up the opening set in just 36 minutes. As the second set unfolded, Haddad Maia surged to a 5-1 lead, but Pigossi fought back valiantly, breaking Haddad Maia’s serve in the eighth game and applying pressure in the tenth. Nevertheless, Haddad Maia secured the final three points to clinch her place in the next round.
Reflecting on her performance, Haddad Maia acknowledged Pigossi’s efforts, stating, “I think Laura raised the level in the last two games, and I ended up rushing a little. The match got more emotional in this final part, but that’s part of it—tennis is never perfect.” She expressed gratitude towards the supportive Brazilian crowd, emphasizing the importance of representing her country.
Haddad Maia will face the fifth seed Renata Zarazua of Mexico in the quarter-finals. Zarazua reached this stage by defeating Turkey’s Berfu Cengiz with a similarly decisive scoreline of 6-1, 6-4, marking her return to a WTA 250 quarter-final for the first time since Merida in 2024. “I’m very happy. Thank you to everyone who came to watch us,” Zarazua shared, highlighting her excitement about playing in Brazil and the pressure to perform well at home.
In another match, Hungarian player Panna Udvardy earned her quarter-final spot with a solid 6-3, 6-3 win against wildcard Ana Candiotto. The No. 8 seed managed to outlast the 21-year-old Brazilian, who had the support of a home crowd. Udvardy acknowledged the challenge of competing in front of local fans but adapted her strategy to emerge victorious.
“My first set was more mental, and in the second, I managed to be more tactical,” Udvardy explained. She will compete against Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah from France for a chance to reach the semi-finals.
The remaining quarter-final matchups were confirmed on Wednesday and will feature 3rd-seed Alex Eala from the Philippines against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, and Britain’s No. 6 seed Fran Jones facing the second seed Solana Sierra from Argentina.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Haddad Maia, Zarazua, and the other contenders as they aim for success in front of passionate home fans.
