Beatriz Haddad Maia returned to the world circuit after 117 days and ended up defeated in her debut at the WTA 500 in Adelaide, Australia. The number 1 from Brazil and 59th in the world started well and won the first set, but could not resist when the young Canadian Victoria Mboko, number 17 in the world at 19 years old, found her aggressive tennis and started to command the actions in most points. The teenager came away with the victory by 5/7, 6/3 and 6/2.
It was the 29-year-old São Paulo native’s first match since last year’s WTA 500 in Seoul. At that tournament, in September, Bia felt ill on the court, having difficulty breathing and even holding a bottle of water with her hands shaking. Shortly afterwards, he announced that he would end his season there, with the aim of resting physically and mentally.
Mboko, in turn, had more pace in the game. Coached by Frenchwoman Nathalia Tauziat and Maxime Tchoutakian – who joined Bia Haddad’s team at the beginning of 2025 – the Canadian had already made two appearances this season when defending her country in the United Cup. Qualified for the round of 16 in Adelaide, Mboko will next face the winner of the game between Russian Anna Kalinskaya (#33 in the world) and Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse (#79).
