Brazilian tennis player Bia Haddad in quarterfinals in Doha

Brazilian tennis player Beatriz Haddad, world number 12, will face American Jessica Pegula today (Feb.16) for the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 in Doha (United Arab Emirates). The clash against Pegula will be the first one between the two tennis players on the world circuit.

"I really respect her career and history. I feel motivated and prepared to go on court and do my best," Haddad said.

On Wednesday (15), she defeated Russia's Daria Kasatina (8th ranked by the WTA) by 2 sets to 0 and qualified for the quarterfinals.

"It was an important win in my career. Playing against a top 10 player like Daria, who is very competitive, consistent, and always plays at a high level, made me very happy with my victory," said the Brazilian after the triumph, her seventh victory against a top 10 opponent on the world circuit.

Last Monday (13), the Brazilian athlete reached the 12th place in the world, the best position of a Brazilian tennis player in the history of the sport since 1975, when the score began to count for the WTA ranking. Until then, the great tennis star in the country was Maria Esther Bueno, who won 19 Grand Slams (seven singles, 11 doubles, and one mixed doubles) between 1950 and the beginning of the 1970s.