Beatriz Haddad Maia can even her overall record versus Madison Keys when both women square off in their opening match of the Wuhan Open on Sunday.
The Brazilian is coming off a victory at the Hana Bank Korea Open last month, coming from behind to defeat Daria Kasatkina in the final, 1-6 6-4 6-1, while Keys lost a nail-biting round of 32 clash at the US Open in August against Elise Mertens 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 4-6.
Match preview
© Imago
It has been a strong couple of months for Beatriz Haddad Maia, who has made the final in two of her previous three tournaments on the WTA tour.
In between her defeat in the Tennis in Cleveland tournament versus McCartney Kessler (6-1 1-6 5-7) and her victory at the Korea Open, she made it to the quarter-finals of the US Open singles event in August before being eliminated in straight sets by Karolina Muchova (1-6 4-6).
She has made it beyond the opening round in three successive tournaments on the hard court since being eliminated in her first match at the Cincinnati Open by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-7 (7-4) 3-6.
Seeded 10th at this event, the Sao Paulo-born player has, at times, been her own worst enemy this year, registering 159 double faults in 51 matches.
On the opposite side, though, she has had a strong forehand game all year, winning 43.7% of her return points in 2024 while converting 43.6% of her break points.
Meanwhile, Haddad Maia has won just over 70% (70.5%) of her service games this year, despite winning fewer than half (46.9%) of her second serves.
© Imago
Over the past couple of months, Madison Keys has suffered some bitter defeats, following up a round of 32 exit in the National Bank Open, where she was forced to retire, with a narrow three-set defeat at Flushing Meadows.
Hard courts have not been a strong suit of hers throughout this year, with the American's best finish on that surface in 2024 occurring at the Miami Open in March, when Elena Rybakina ousted her in the round of 16 (3-6 5-7).
A runner-up at the 2017 US Open, Keys has beaten two top-10 players at tournaments this year, upsetting Coco Gauff in the fourth round of the Madrid Open and ousting Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals of that same event.
Keys has hit 124 aces in 32 matches played this year, winning 68.6% of her first serves and 73.4% of her first serve games.
This year, she has converted 43.9% of her break points while winning 44.1% of her return points to this stage of the 2024 campaign.
The 29-year-old has won 46.7% of her second serves so far this year and been able to save 61.7% of her break points in 2024.
Head To Head
Elite Trophy (2024) - Round Robin: Haddad Maia wins 6-4 6-4
Italian Open (2023) - Third Round: Keys wins 6-4 4-6 6-3
China Open (2024) - Third Round: Keys wins 6-3 6-3
When these two first met at the Elite Trophy event last year, the Brazilian took three of her six break-point opportunities while winning nine of her service games to claim victory.
In the rematch later that year, the American won 67% of her first serve points as opposed to 56% for Haddad Maia, which made the ultimate difference.
Despite winning three of her five break points when these two met in China last month, Haddad Maia hit five double faults, while Keys had a first serve percentage of 71% to the Brazilian's 55%, with Keys emerging victorious.
We say: Haddad Maia to win in two sets
Heading into this tournament, Haddad Maia has built up some solid momentum, and she has been a little cleaner on the hard court of late than her American counterpart.
Joel Lefevre
