Beatriz Haddad Maia had a really strong 2023 campaign, which is why she was named Woman of the Year by GQ Brazil.
GQ runs awards every year, choosing people who did something significant globally or for their country. Beatriz Haddad Maia was this year's Woman of the Year, chosen by GQ Brazil after doing some amazing things on the WTA Tour.
The country has had some big names in the sport before and contributed to tennis legacy quite a bit but in recent years hasn't seen much success. Haddad Maia changed that this year as she established herself as one of the best players in the world with her consistent performances.
It's not what many expected from her a few years ago, but the late bloomer certainly proved she belongs this year. She had multiple semi-final finishes this year, including the French Open, where she ultimately lost to Iga Swiatek.
Her only trophy came at the end of the year when she played at the WTA Elite Trophy, defeating Qinwen Zheng in the final. That allowed her to almost finish in the Top 10 of the WTA Rankings, which is an extremely good result for her.
She became a superstar back home, with the whole nation of Brazil rallying before. It's something she never imagined but also something she worked hard for. Some have even compared her to some greats from the past, which is something she rejects but aspires to get to.
She hopes to emulate some of the ideas players like Maria Esther Bueno backed during her time, which she talked about in her interview with GQ.
We still live in a sexist world. Maria Esther was part of a generation that fought for this and for the prize money. I respect and value. I sure don't put myself on the same page.
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