Beatriz Haddad Maia has finally cracked the glass ceiling for Brazilian tennis, becoming the first player from her country to advance to the US Open quarterfinals since 1968. As she gears up to face Karolína Muchová in the next round, the tennis world is abuzz about her coach, who has stirred strong reactions among the tennis community. Fans are eager to know who this enigmatic figure is.

Beatriz Haddad Maia’s current coach is Rafael Paciaroni, who has been a pivotal figure in her tennis journey. He started working with Haddad Maia somewhere around 2017 when she was included in the Grand Slam Development Fund Program. This initiative was designed to support promising young players in their rapid advancement. Paciaroni, who is now the full-time coach of Haddad Maia, continues to work with other emerging talents under the program.

Despite his crucial role with Haddad Maia, not much is publicly known about Rafael Paciaroni, except that he has held positions as a tennis development coach at various facilities in Brazil and England.

During the US Open though, Rafael Paciaroni’s coaching methods have stirred significant controversy, drawing the ire of many spectators and commentators. His incessant shouting between every point has been described as one of the most disruptive aspects of the tournament.

Moreover, the sheer volume and frequency of his instructions have also been seen as overly intrusive, with some fans expressing frustration by sarcastically suggesting that he should simply take over the match himself. This intense coaching style not only overshadows the on-court action at times but has also sparked a debate about the boundaries of coaching in professional tennis.

Haddad Maia herself though is ecstatic about her amazing achievement at the US Open, as she shared her excitement about it.

Beatriz Haddad Maia talks about making her way into the quarter-final

Before this year, Beatriz Haddad Maia had never progressed beyond the second round at the US Open, having faced early exits in her previous three appearances in New York. However, in her fourth main draw showing at the tournament, the Brazilian No. 1 has significantly raised her game.

She said, “It’s very nice to see a lot of people, especially Brazilians cheering for me and following me during the whole year. I think that gives me the motivation to keep going also because I know there is a lot of girls and boys who can get inspired, and they can also dream and see me on these big courts and see that if I’m there, they also can do it.”

Beatriz Haddad Maia, made history by advancing to her maiden US Open quarterfinal with a fierce victory against Caroline Wozniacki, the former world no. 1, at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Her outstanding performance gives Brazilian tennis fans hope for a significant win on the big stage. Do you think Haddad Maia can go even further at the US Open and possibly even win the tournament? Let us know in the comments below.