By Tennis Now | Monday, October 11, 2021
World No. 115 Beatriz Haddad Maia broke Karolina Pliskova's serve eight times stunning the top-seeded Czech 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Indian Wells round of 16 for the first time.
Photo credit: Getty
The lucky loser was a wondrous winner.
World No. 115 Beatriz Haddad Maia gained entry into the Indian Wells draw as a lucky loser and extended her stay with the biggest victory of her career.
Opelka: Tennis Media is Terrible, Brooksby Can Win a Grand Slam
Haddad Maia broke Karolina Pliskova's serve eight times stunning the top-seeded Czech 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the BNP Paribas Open round of 16 for the first time.
It is Haddad Maia's second career Top 5 win following her 6-3, 6-3 sweep of world No. 4 Sloane Stephens at the 2019 Acapulco.
The left-handed Brazilian has played primarily on the ITF circuit this season where she's enjoyed strong success since the US Open. Haddad Maia has won 19 of her last 22 matches at all levels, including collecting successive ITF clay-court titles in Switzerland.
As whipping wind gusts reached 40 mph today, Haddad Maia managed the blustery spikes better than Pliskova, who struggled to time her high ball toss in the wind. One of the biggest servers in the sport, Pliskova committed 12 double faults compared to four for her opponent and dropped serve eight times.
Playing on Stadium 3 court, the pair combined for 13 service breaks, including eight straight breaks in the second set.
Haddad Maia failed to serve out the match at 5-3 as Pliskova rode her flat strikes to level at 5-all.
The lucky loser held for 6-5 then rattled Pliskova's racquet breaking in the final game to wrap a two hour, four-minute triumph. Haddad Maia will face red-hot Anett Kontaveit next. Kontaveit knocked off 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu 7-6(5), 6-3.