Beatriz Haddad Maia, 17th in the world, suffered in her debut at the Australian Open to beat Argentine Julia Riera, 146th, and admitted a poor performance. In the second round, this Thursday (16), she had a much more solid performance against the Russian Erika Andreeva, number 86, and easily advanced to the third round.
The 28-year-old Brazilian needed 1h21 to triumph by 2 sets to 0, partials of 6/2 and 6/3. In her third confrontation with Erika on the circuit, she repeated the result of the previous two, with a superiority that was clear at the 1573 Arena, in the Melbourne Park complex, in Melbourne, Australia.
Bia will return to the court, in Brazilian time, in the early hours of Friday (17) to Saturday (18). She will face the winner of the clash between the British Katie Boulter, 35th on the WTA list (the association of professional tennis players), and the Russian Veronika Kudermetova, 75th.
Against Andreeva, the São Paulo native imposed herself in the first set, with much heavier blows than her opponent’s. The Russian even started the second half well, with a break of serve, at a moment when her opponent was relaxing, but order was soon reestablished.
“Today, I managed to play a much more lucid game, tranquility and calm were important. I tried to impose my tennis, be a protagonist. I served and returned in a better way”, the Brazilian told ESPN. “Now it’s time to keep going. We’ve only got one step closer to the tournament. Let’s see what’s ahead.”
