Renata Zarazua, a 27-year-old Mexican tennis player ranked 84th in the world by the WTA, secured her spot in the semifinals of the SP Open 2025 by defeating Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, the world number 27 and top tournament favorite, in a match played on the afternoon of Friday, September 12, at the Maria Esther Bueno center court, set up at Parque Villa-Lobos in São Paulo. The quarterfinal clash of the WTA 250 ended with scores of 7/6 (7-5 in the tie-break) and 6/3 after just over two hours of intense play on synthetic clay under strong sunlight, with the crowd split between support for the local player and appreciation for the visitor’s resilience. Zarazua, who arrived in Brazil after defeating Berfu Cengiz in the round of 16 with a 6/4, 6/4 scoreline, capitalized on Bia’s unforced errors at critical moments and confirmed her serve with precise aces, while Haddad Maia, fresh off a 6/1, 6/4 win over Laura Pigossi, fought with varied pacing but couldn’t avoid a decisive break in the second set. The Mexican’s motivation stemmed from seeking her first WTA title outside Latin America, in an event marking the return of elite women’s tennis to São Paulo after 25 years, boosting local tennis with a $270,000 prize pool and expectations of record attendance in the final days.
The Brazilian, who reached three semifinals in 2025, including Strasbourg, saw her undefeated streak against Zarazua in professional tournaments—two prior wins in Bogotá and Guadalajara—broken for the first time in a main draw. The match began with Bia’s early dominance, opening a 3/0 lead in the first set with powerful serves and aggressive returns, but the Mexican countered with short balls and net approaches, tying at 3/3 after 25 minutes of long rallies.
- Bia Haddad confirmed her serve in the opening game with a 180 km/h ace, forcing Zarazua into return errors.
- Zarazua broke back in the fourth game, using slice to vary the pace and exploit her opponent’s baseline play.
- The tie-break emerged after 54 minutes, with the Mexican saving two set points and closing with a forehand winner on the line.
This sequence of points highlighted Zarazua’s ability to adapt to São Paulo’s 28-degree heat and sea-level altitude, contrasting with the pressure on Bia to represent Brazil at home.
The second set saw more initial balance, with Bia tying at 1/1 after a precise counterattack, but Zarazua took a 3/1 lead with a short ball that caught the Brazilian off guard. Haddad Maia, known for her clay-court consistency, committed 22 unforced errors overall, compared to Zarazua’s 15, and struggled to hold serve amid mixed cheers from the roughly 2,000-strong crowd. The Mexican, meanwhile, celebrated each point with clenched fists, echoing her recent victory in Acapulco.
Strategies that shaped the match
Zarazua entered the court with a clear plan to vary heights and angles, forcing Bia to move more across the 23.77m x 10.97m court. The Mexican, who trains in Guadalajara with a focus on quick transitions, hit 12 winners in the first set, many from crosscourt backhands, exploiting Haddad’s recent weakness in high-pressure returns, evident in her US Open fourth-round exit.
Bia, in contrast, relied on her heavy forehand, responsible for 18 winners, but faltered on net approaches, converting only 4 of 7 volleys. The match flowed with hydration breaks at each changeover, per WTA rules, and neutral umpires ensured smoothness despite a five-minute pause over a disputed out-of-bounds call.
- In the tie-break, Zarazua saved a set point with a drop shot that kissed the line, winning as her opponent stretched in vain.
- Bia tied the second set at 2/2 with a powerful smash but lost the next game due to a double fault at 30-40.
- The final break came in the eighth game, with Zarazua forcing an error on a long passing shot from the Brazilian.
These moments underscored the Mexican’s control, with 65% first-serve points, while Bia, at 58%, struggled with vulnerable second serves.
The match was part of the packed SP Open schedule, which began on September 6 with qualifiers and featured 32 players in the main draw, including seven Brazilians like Luisa Stefani in doubles. Organized by the São Paulo Tennis Federation, the tournament offers 280 points to the champion, a goal Zarazua now chases to climb the rankings.
Rivals’ history on the tour
Beatriz Haddad Maia and Renata Zarazua first met in 2019, in a Bogotá qualifier, where Bia won 6/2, 6/1 on similar clay. Their second clash came in 2023 in Guadalajara, with Bia taking a 7/5, 6/4 victory, leveraging Mexico’s altitude. This time, Zarazua’s upset broke the 2-0 head-to-head, marking her third quarterfinal win in a WTA 250 this season.
Haddad, 29, earned 44 points from her two prior wins in the tournament but remains at 1,750 points, eyeing the top 25. Zarazua, climbing 20 spots in 2025 with semifinals in Seoul and Busan, now adds 60 points from the quarters, aiming for 110 in the semis.
The duel reflected parallel paths: both clay specialists, with Bia at 65% win rate on the surface and Zarazua at 62%, per WTA data. The Mexican, starting the year outside the top 100, credits her progress to training with former top-50 player Marcela Arraya.
- Zarazua’s first win over a top-30 player in a WTA main draw.
- Bia undefeated in four prior matches against Mexicans at home.
- Both with a history of decisive tie-breaks: Zarazua converted 7/10 in 2025.
These stats highlight the competitiveness of the Latin American circuit, where events like the SP Open fuel regional rivalries.
Crowd and atmosphere at Villa-Lobos
Parque Villa-Lobos, with a 4,000-seat center court, buzzed with chants of “Bia, Bia” mixed with applause for Zarazua, who responded with waves in Spanish. The organizers set up external screens for free public viewing, drawing families and students during the holiday weekend. Enhanced security and water stations met ITF standards for tropical climates.
Bia, born in São Paulo, felt the home pressure: “The crowd gives me energy, but today I needed more precision,” she said in a brief post-match press conference. Zarazua, on her third Brazil visit, praised the hospitality: “São Paulo welcomes me like a friend, and the court suits my game.”
The event, with tickets starting at R$50, saw 80% occupancy in the quarters, boosted by student promotions. CBT volunteers distributed rackets for beginners, tying the tournament to grassroots sports.
Bia’s loss doesn’t dim her shine: with 15 wins in 2025, she now focuses on Guadalajara next week, while the SP Open continues with semifinals on Sunday.
Zarazua’s path to the final
With the win, Renata Zarazua faces France’s Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in the semifinals, set for Saturday at 4 p.m. The Frenchwoman, ranked 156th, stunned Panna Udvardy 6/3, 7/5 in the round of 16, showing strength with 70% of first-serve points won.
Zarazua, who beat Luiza Fullana 6/2, 6/1 in the opener, has three straight wins in the tournament, her best run in Brazil. Her style, with 40% of points at the net, contrasts with Rajaonah’s baseline game, promising a fast-transition semi.
- Zarazua: 12 aces in the tournament, averaging 4 per match.
- Rajaonah: 68% of service games saved in 2025.
- Expected duration: 1h45, with a likely tie-break in the first set.
This stage raises the WTA 250’s stakes, with a $20,000 semifinal prize, drawing attention to São Paulo’s clay as a pre-Roland Garros 2026 showcase.
The SP Open continues with doubles highlights: Luisa Stefani and Timea Babos advanced to the quarters, defeating Solana Sierra and Zarazua 6/4, 7/5, a twist the Mexican laughed off: “Lost to her in doubles, but won in singles—balance!”
Technical highlights of the match
Analyzing points, Zarazua converted 4 of 7 break points, a 57% efficiency, while Bia saved 5 of 8 but faltered in the crucial eighth game of the second set. The Mexican won 52% of return points, exploiting Haddad’s 110 km/h average second serves.
Bia, with an 85 km/h average forehand, hit 28 winners but 35 total errors weighed against Zarazua’s 22. The first-set tie-break, with 12 points, saw the Frenchwoman miss a passing shot at 5-6, opening the door for Zarazua’s decisive ace.
These Hawk-Eye stats highlight Zarazua’s growth in high-level tournaments, with a 65% tie-break conversion rate this season.
The rivalry adds flavor to the tour: Bia, with 12 ITF and 2 WTA titles, seeks a quick rebound, while Zarazua, with a 2022 Hamburg title, aims for the top 50 by December.
The tournament, with 16 doubles teams, awards 280 points to the singles champion, bolstering the South American calendar with events in Buenos Aires and Santiago in October.
Next steps in the tournament
The semifinals promise intensity: besides Zarazua vs. Rajaonah, Francesca Jones faces Solana Sierra, with the Argentine coming off a 6/0, 6/4 win over Nauhany Silva. The doubles draw sees Stefani/Babos as favorites after beating Sierra/Zarazua.
Sunday hosts the singles final at 3 p.m., with doubles finals on Saturday. The $270,000 prize pool includes $43,000 for the singles champion, attracting names like Alexandra Eala and Julia Riera, who exited early.
- Singles semifinal: Zarazua vs. Rajaonah (4 p.m., Saturday).
- Doubles semifinal: Stefani/Babos vs. winners of Martins/Pigossi vs. Haverlag/Appleton.
- Singles final: September 14, 3 p.m., with 280 WTA points.
These stages keep Villa-Lobos buzzing, with free youth clinics and exhibitions featuring legends like Maria Esther Bueno, honored in the court’s name.
Zarazua’s campaign boosts Mexican tennis, backed by local federation investments in youth. Bia, despite the loss, gains experience for the WTA 500 in Beijing in October.
The SP Open cements São Paulo as a sports hub, with 90% court usage post-event, driving a 20% rise in local academy enrollments in recent years.
Renata Zarazua, now a semifinalist, carries the Mexican flag into Saturday’s clash, while Brazil celebrates the tournament as a revival milestone for women’s tennis.