BOGOTA, Colombia - Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia scored a major upset at the Claro Open Colsanitas on Wednesday, knocking out defending champion Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in straight sets.

In a closely-contested battle that was interrupted multiple times due to rain, it was Haddad Maia that edged through in two hours and 32 minutes, winning 7-6(3), 7-6(6).

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“I knew that it was going to be a tough match, she won here last year,” Haddad Maia told press after the match. “And this is one of the toughest tournaments to play. The conditions make it so tough to play here in Bogota - the ball flies a lot.

“I’m very happy that I could play my game,” Haddad Maia added. “I was trying to make some good rallies with her, because I know she moves very well. But I’m very happy with this match today and it gives me a lot of confidence.”

The win puts the Brazilian qualifier through to her second WTA quarterfinal of the year, after a strong showing in Acapulco from the qualifying rounds - a run which included a straight-sets stunner over World No.4 Sloane Stephens.

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Not only was the No.165-ranked Haddad Maia taking on a determined Schmiedlova - who is ranked almost 100 spots higher then her - she also had to battle through nerves. The rain interrupted play twice, just as the Brazilian felt her game was finally settling into a good rhythm.

“We stopped two times and then came back to the court,” Haddad Maia explained. “It’s not easy because I was winning both times when we had to stop, so I’m very happy that I could control my nerves and keep doing what I need to do.”


Up next, Haddad Maia will face a familiar opponent when she takes on No.7 seed Sara Sorribes Tormo in the quarterfinals.

“Sara is a very good friend of mine, we have dinner a lot of days and I’ve known her since we were juniors,” she said. “We practiced a few times and I remember we played in Seoul before too. It’s going to be tough, she’s very solid.”

Earlier in the day, Sorribes Tormo needed three sets to see off Ana Bogdan, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to book her quarterfinal spot. She trails Haddad Maia 1-0 in their head-to-head record, with the Brazilian claiming their Korea Open battle 6-4, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova, the No.6 seed, required an hour and a quarter to overcome Varvara Lepchenko, 6-4, 6-4.