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Beatriz Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman to reach the top 10 of the WTA rankings on Monday after reaching her dream French Open semi-final.
The 27-year-old defeated Tunisia’s Anas Jabeur in the quarter-finals in Paris to become the first Brazilian woman in 55 years to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.
She was eventually beaten by eventual champion Ija Swiatek.
Brazilian women have had precious little success since the days of Maria Bueno who won seven Grand Slam titles between 1959 and 1966 — long before the advent of the WTA rankings introduced in 1975.
Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten reached No. 1 in the men’s ATP rankings in 2000.
Haddad Maya finished 10th in the grass court season, which she touched last year, and will feature in the Nottingham Open this week as preparations for Wimbledon begin.
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