In a pulsating semifinal at the 2025 Internationaux de Strasbourg, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina showcased her trademark resilience to outlast Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in a grueling three-set battle on Friday, May 23, 2025. The match, a nearly three-hour epic, ended with Rybakina triumphing 7-6(7), 1-6, 6-2, securing her spot in the WTA 500 final and signaling a return to form just days before the French Open. The fourth-seeded former Wimbledon champion leaned on her powerful serve and clutch play to overcome a resurgent Haddad Maia, whose spirited performance marked a significant turnaround in her challenging 2025 season.
The match opened with both players delivering high-level tennis, trading powerful groundstrokes on the slow Strasbourg clay. The first set remained tightly contested, with neither player yielding a break of serve. Rybakina’s formidable serve, which produced eight aces throughout the match, kept her in control, while Haddad Maia’s tactical variety—mixing slices and net approaches—tested the Kazakh’s patience. The set culminated in a tense tiebreak, where Rybakina faced a set point but stayed composed, edging out Haddad Maia 7-6(7) with a blistering forehand winner. “I had a lot of opportunities, couldn’t take it from the beginning. But I’m pleased I got the win,” Rybakina reflected post-match, acknowledging the fine margins that defined the opener.
Haddad Maia, undeterred, roared back in the second set, capitalizing on a dip in Rybakina’s focus. The Brazilian, ranked No. 23, dominated with a 6-1 scoreline, breaking Rybakina’s serve multiple times as she showcased the resilience that had carried her to three consecutive victories in Strasbourg—her first such streak of 2025. Her recent upset over world No. 9 Emma Navarro in the quarterfinals had already signaled a revival after a tough season marked by injuries and a nine-match losing streak. Yet, Rybakina’s response in the decider was emphatic. Regrouping with steely determination, she broke Haddad Maia’s serve early in the third set and maintained her lead, closing out the match 6-2 with a series of unreturnable serves. “I feel good on court. Still a lot to improve but physically & mentally I’m happy to play tournaments,” Rybakina said, expressing optimism about her form heading into Roland Garros.
Rybakina’s path to the final was far from straightforward. Entering Strasbourg with a 19-9 record in 2025, the former world No. 3 had faced setbacks, including third-round exits in Madrid and Rome, and off-court distractions involving her banned coach, Stefano Vukov. Her Strasbourg campaign, however, marked a turning point. After a first-round bye, she dispatched China’s Xinyu Wang 6-1, 6-3 and Poland’s Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3, without dropping serve in either match. Her semifinal performance against Haddad Maia, where she saved eight of 11 break points, underscored her ability to perform under pressure. With 133 aces and a 72.5% first-serve win rate this season, Rybakina’s serve remains a weapon, particularly on clay, where her 52.5% break point conversion rate highlights her clutch play.
For Haddad Maia, the loss was bittersweet but a testament to her resurgence. After peaking at No. 10 in 2023, the Brazilian had slipped to No. 23 following a 3-14 start to 2025. Her Strasbourg run, including victories over Clara Tauson, Ashlyn Krueger, and Navarro, earned her 185 ranking points and approximately $55,600, positioning her for a potential top-20 return. Her 2-1 head-to-head lead over Rybakina, bolstered by a clay-court win in Stuttgart two years prior, gave her confidence, but Rybakina’s power proved decisive in the critical moments.
The semifinal showcased contrasting styles: Rybakina’s aggressive baseline game and dominant serve against Haddad Maia’s crafty spin and net play. The Brazilian’s drop shots, effective against Navarro, were less successful against Rybakina, whose height and reach neutralized the tactic. Despite the defeat, Haddad Maia’s performance signaled a return to the form that once made her a top-10 player, offering hope for a strong showing at Roland Garros, where she faces a tough first-round opponent.
Rybakina now advances to face Liudmila Samsonova in the Strasbourg final, a matchup pitting her power against the Russian’s finesse. Samsonova, who defeated Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-2 in the other semifinal, leads their head-to-head 4-1, though Rybakina won their most recent clash in Abu Dhabi in 2024. With the French Open looming, Rybakina’s Strasbourg run—her first final since Stuttgart 2024—positions her as a dangerous contender in Paris, where she’ll face Argentina’s Julia Riera in the first round. For Haddad Maia, the semifinal loss stings, but her spirited campaign on the French clay offers a foundation to rebuild her season.
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