SUMMARY
- Beatriz Haddad Maia's marathon matches spark discussions on her endurance and tactics.
- Questions arise about her playing style's effectiveness that extends her matches.
The endurance and tactics of the Brazilian tennis star and the current world no. 13, Beatriz Haddad Maia, have sparked discussions across the WTA circuit. Her recent marathon victory over Poland’s Magda Linette at the Abu Dhabi Open 2024 underlined her reputation for playing extremely long matches. This victory marked her 11th match since January 2022, which surpassed the three-hour mark.
The 27-year-old’s ability to extend matches has drawn attention from tennis enthusiasts worldwide, prompting discussions on her physical endurance, playing style, and mental resilience. Some speculate about her potential to make significant strides in the WTA circuit, given her previous successes, including reaching the semifinals of the French Open.
Marathon Woman
Think you can outlast Beatriz Haddad Maia? Think again!
The Brazilian, who played SIX matches lasting longer than 3 hours in 2023 – including the two longest matches of the year – battles for 3h 42m to get past Magda Linette in Abu Dhabi, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 6-1. pic.twitter.com/RpGTdajrpl
— Tick Tock Tennis (@TickTockTennis) February 7, 2024
However, others question whether her style of play, characterized by relentless perseverance by just keeping the ball in play rather than hitting overpowering shots, hinders her from keeping the points short. This doesn’t help her cause when she plays other solid baseliners who are equally adept at playing a similar game style, thus engaging in longer rallies and matches that go the distance.
Analyzing Haddad Maia’s game reveals a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses. While she demonstrates mental toughness and athleticism, her reliance on a one-dimensional playing style from the baseline limits her offensive capabilities against other top-tier opponents. Haddad Maia’s defensive approach helps her keep opponents at bay, but in the process, the matches often get extended.
Gigante! 🏆✨🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/AVqXthQ3ck
— wta (@WTA) October 29, 2023
Despite her notable achievements, such as winning the WTA Elite Trophy title in Zhuhai, critics argue that her lack of variety and powerful groundstrokes coupled with a tendency to engage in longer rallies could pose challenges in her quest for Grand Slam glory, as playing marathon matches over two weeks could ultimately lead to mental and physical exhaustion during the business end of a tournament.
The marathon matches of Beatriz Haddad Maia
Beatriz Haddad Maia with a career-high world No. 10 ranking, is renowned for her ability to engage in marathon matches, showcasing her exceptional stamina and resilience on the court. Throughout her career, she has participated in several epic battles that have lasted for hours, leaving fans in awe of her endurance and determination.
One of the most recent examples of Haddad Maia’s endurance came during her match against Poland’s Magda Linette at the Abu Dhabi Open 2024. The encounter stretched for an astonishing 3 hours and 44 minutes, with Haddad Maia emerging victorious with a score line of 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-1. This victory not only secured her a spot in the quarterfinals but also showcased her ability to slowly grind down her opponents.
Beatriz Haddad Maia played the longest match of 2023 at Roland Garros against Sorribes Tormo
3 hours & 51 min
Today, she played the longest match of 2024 against Linette
3 hours & 43 min
The season just started & she’s already trying to beat her record 😂
Never change 🇧🇷💛🫶 pic.twitter.com/tkaJqArYZ4
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 7, 2024
This match was just one among many for Haddad Maia, who has developed a reputation for engaging in lengthy battles on the tennis court. Her match against Sara Sorribes Tormo at the 2023 French Open stands out as the longest match of the season, lasting an astounding 3 hours and 51 minutes with a score of 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-5, and becoming the tenth longest women’s match in the history of the open era.
The French Open served as a testament to Haddad Maia’s mental fortitude and ability to thrive under pressure, with four of her five matches extending to three sets, which included a remarkable comeback from match point down in the third round against Ekaterina Alexandrova, which went the distance with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 and lasted 2 hours, 48 minutes.
In the quarterfinal match, Haddad Maia staged a comeback after losing the first set to defeat the seventh seed, Ons Jabeur with a scoreline of 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes. These marathon battles not only showcased Haddad Maia’s exceptional resilience but also solidified her reputation as a formidable competitor on the WTA tour.