Australian Open: Bia Haddad takes Brazil to doubles semifinals

Brazilian Bia Haddad and Kazakhstani Anna Danilina bagged a spot in the semifinals for the doubles at the Australian Open, to be held tomorrow (Jan. 26). The Brazil–Kazakhstan duo won after a comeback, in a two-hour match against Swede Rebecca Peterson and Russian Anastasia Potapova by 2-1 (4/6, 7/5, 6/3).

Dueling next are Haddad and Danilina against Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara, old acquaintances: on January 15, the Asian pair was defeated by the Brazil–Kazakhstan partnership in a WTA 500 semi in Sidney, only to be beaten days later by Haddad and Danilina.

“Now is the time for us to aim for our best, to be out there, and face up to our own emotions and focus on our game. The adversaries are experienced and close partners, a little unlike the girls we faced today, so we have to seize opportunities and stay competitive. That’s what I think makes the difference,” Haddad argued after the victory, the eighth in a row next to Danilina since the beginning of the season.