For Latin American tennis fans looking for a strong clay-court push ahead of Roland Garros, Tuesday brought another setback. Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, the 2023 Roland Garros semifinalist and one of the region’s most recognizable names on the WTA Tour, was swept out of the Madrid Open in the first round by Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 6-1, 6-1.
The match lasted just 74 minutes on the clay at Caja Mágica, with Bouzas Maneiro dictating from the start and giving Haddad Maia little room to settle. The Spaniard converted five of eight break-point chances, while Haddad Maia failed to convert either of her two opportunities and won only two games all afternoon.
It was a particularly harsh result for Haddad Maia because clay has long been considered one of the surfaces where the Brazilian can do her best work. Her run to the Roland Garros semifinals in 2023 made her one of the leading women’s players from Latin America, but this season has been far more difficult. According to the WTA player page surfaced in search results, Haddad Maia entered Madrid with a 2-10 singles record in 2026 and a current ranking of No. 69.
Bouzas Maneiro, ranked No. 50, also beat Haddad Maia earlier this season at Indian Wells, meaning the Spaniard has now defeated the Brazilian twice in 2026. Playing at home clearly helped as well. Spanish coverage described Bouzas Maneiro as sharp behind her serve and energized by the home crowd, and the win sent her into the second round in Madrid for the third straight year.
For us here in Costa Rica and all of Latin America, Haddad Maia’s loss matters because she has been one of the few Latin American women with the pedigree to threaten deep runs at the sport’s biggest events. Her power from the left side and success on clay have made her an important reference point for the region. But right now, her form remains a concern, and Madrid offered little sign of a turnaround.
Bouzas Maneiro moves on to face 18th seed Diana Shnaider, while Haddad Maia leaves Madrid searching for answers at a crucial point in the clay season, with Roland Garros now drawing closer.
