The story of Beatriz Haddad Maia is a spectacular one that is still going on as she hopes to add more great chapters in 2024.
Beatriz Haddad Maia has had a very eventful career so far. The Brazilian broke out some six years ago, reaching a maiden WTA final and becoming a Top 100 player. The career seemed to have been trending in the right direction, but a year later, she started to deal with an injury.
Things didn't get better the next year when she was suspended from the sport after ingesting a contaminated supplement. She was suspended for 10 months but made her way back eventually returning to the Top 100 in 2021.
Since then, it's been a steady rise for Haddad Maia, who finished 11th in the world at the end of the 2023 season following the WTA Elite Trophy triumph. That's her best ranking ever, and she's determined to make it even better in 2024 as she sees more success.
The dream is to become world number one day, and whether that's realistic or not, the odds have been against her many times. She came back stronger every time, and now, finally healthy and free to play, Haddad Maia is proving to have what it takes.
Becoming number one isn't her only goal, as she wants to make a difference back home as well. She wants to use her platform for good, which is commendable. Her story has reached many back home in Brazil, as she was recently named Woman of the Year in the country by GQ.
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. 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.