Bia Haddad Maia, number 21 in the world and Brazil’s top tennis player, returns to the courts this Tuesday, July 29, 2025, to face Dutch player Suzan Lamens, 64th in the WTA ranking, in the second round of the WTA 1000 in Montreal, Canada. The match, scheduled for around 8:30 PM Brasília time, will take place on the Rogers Court, with live broadcast on ESPN and the Disney+ streaming platform. After nearly a month without competing, since her loss in the second round of Wimbledon, Bia, seeded 18th, aims to regain her rhythm in the hard-court season, crucial for her preparation for the US Open. The matchup is the second between the players, with Lamens having won the only previous encounter in 2021 on clay in Oeiras. The Brazilian, a finalist in the tournament in 2022, enters as the favorite but faces an opponent on the rise in the professional circuit.
The 29-year-old player from São Paulo comes from a challenging season, with 10 wins and 20 losses in 2025, and seeks important points in Canada to climb the ranking, where she was once top 10 in 2023. Suzan Lamens, in turn, is experiencing her best phase, with 21 wins and 18 losses in the year, including a semifinal in Rouen and a runner-up finish in Osaka in 2023.
- Head-to-head history: Lamens beat Bia in 2021 in an ITF tournament on clay.
- Surface in play: Bia has 224 wins in 345 hard-court matches; Lamens, 9 in 16 in 2025.
- Live broadcast: ESPN and Disney+ show the match at 8:30 PM (Brasília time).
Bia Haddad’s path in Montreal
After a bye in the first round, secured as the 18th seed, Bia Haddad faces an initial challenge against Suzan Lamens, who defeated Russian Polina Kudermetova in three sets (6/3, 4/6, 6/2) in her debut. The Brazilian, known for her powerful forehand and aggressive play, adjusted technical details during the post-Wimbledon break, especially in her serve and movement. The Rogers Court, the second largest in the complex, will host the duel, which closes the night session after the match between Elena Rybakina and Hailey Baptiste. If she advances, Bia could face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round, with potential matchups against Jasmine Paolini in the round of 16 and Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.
The Montreal tournament, with a prize pool of US$ 5 million, features eight of the top eleven players in the world, such as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, but lacks Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen, and Paula Badosa. The absence of big names opens opportunities, but the path remains demanding. Bia, who defeated Swiatek in 2022 when she was runner-up in Toronto, knows the importance of a strong performance to regain confidence.
- Possible opponents: Ekaterina Alexandrova (3rd round), Jasmine Paolini (round of 16), Coco Gauff (quarterfinals).
- Points at stake: The tournament offers up to 1,000 points to the champion, crucial for the ranking.
- Bia’s history: Runner-up in 2022, with wins over Swiatek, Fernandez, Pliskova, and Bencic.
Recent performance of the players
Bia Haddad has not competed since July 2, when she lost to Dalma Galfi at Wimbledon. The nearly month-long break allowed for technical and physical adjustments, but the lack of rhythm could be an obstacle. In 2022, the Brazilian shone in Canada, reaching the final in Toronto with notable wins, including against the then world number 1, Iga Swiatek. In 2023, however, an injury in the second round against Leylah Fernandez in Montreal halted her campaign. Her experience in major tournaments and record of 224 hard-court wins are assets for the matchup.
Suzan Lamens, 26, is in her best moment. With a runner-up finish in Osaka (2023) and a semifinal in Rouen (2025), she shows progress, but has little experience in WTA 1000 events, never advancing past the second round. Against Polina Kudermetova, Lamens demonstrated resilience, breaking her opponent’s serve seven times and saving four break points. Her win over Bia in 2021, in a lower-tier ITF tournament, was on clay, reducing its relevance to the current hard-court context.
- Bia in 2025: 10 wins, 20 losses, with best result in Strasbourg semifinal.
- Lamens in 2025: 21 wins, 18 losses, with 9 wins in 16 hard-court matches.
- Hard-court factor: Bia has an edge in experience and wins on the surface.
History in the Canadian tournament
The WTA 1000 in Montreal, which alternates with Toronto, is a milestone in Bia Haddad’s career. In 2022, in Toronto, she reached the final, defeating names like Swiatek, Fernandez, Pliskova, and Bencic, but lost to Simona Halep in three sets. It was a moment of affirmation that took her to the top 10 in 2023. Last year, however, an injury against Fernandez in the second round in Montreal limited her campaign. The Brazilian returns to the tournament aiming to repeat her 2022 performance and advance to the later stages, taking advantage of the absence of some favorites.
Suzan Lamens, on the other hand, is making her debut in Montreal. Her experience in tournaments of this level is limited, with appearances in Indian Wells, Rome, Dubai, Miami, and Madrid, without ever advancing beyond the second round. The Dutch player, who reached 61st in the ranking two weeks ago, seeks her first major campaign in a WTA 1000, but faces an opponent with a solid history in the event.
- Bia in 2022: Runner-up in Toronto, with five notable wins.
- Bia in 2023: Injured in the second round against Leylah Fernandez.
- Lamens in WTA 1000: Never advanced past the second round in five participations.
Factors that may decide the match
The matchup between Bia Haddad and Suzan Lamens brings elements that could define the outcome. The Brazilian relies on her powerful forehand and aggressiveness to control points, while Lamens, with a more defensive game, tries to exploit her opponent’s errors. Bia’s break could be a challenge, but her experience in major tournaments is a differential. The hard court favors the Brazilian’s playing style, with a 65% win rate on the surface, against 56% for Lamens in 2025.
The only previous encounter, in 2021, was under different conditions on clay, where Lamens came out on top. In Montreal, the favoritism is with Bia, with odds of 1.56 against 2.44 for the Dutch player, according to betting houses. The Brazilian crowd hopes Bia regains her rhythm and uses her experience to overcome the Dutch player and advance to the third round.
- Playing style: Bia is aggressive, with a powerful forehand; Lamens plays defensively.
- Betting odds: Bia (1.56) is the favorite against Lamens (2.44).
- Experience factor: Bia has an advantage in high-level tournaments.
Preparation for the US Open
The WTA 1000 in Montreal is an essential stage in Bia Haddad’s season, especially as preparation for the US Open, which starts in August. With a record of 10 wins and 20 losses in 2025, the Brazilian needs consistent results to recover positions in the ranking. After Montreal, she is expected to compete in Cincinnati and Monterrey tournaments, seeking rhythm to defend her quarterfinals at the US Open, reached in 2022. A good campaign in Canada could boost her confidence and improve her ranking position, where she was once 10th.
Lamens, who has never played in the US Open main draw, uses Montreal to gain experience in elite tournaments. Her rise in the ranking reflects a positive 2025, but the lack of exposure in major events may limit her chances against an experienced opponent like Bia.
- Bia’s goal: Improve her 2025 record and prepare for the US Open.
- Ranking path: Bia needs at least two wins to return to the top 20.
- Lamens at US Open: No experience in the Grand Slam main draw.
