Australian Open: Unbreakable Putintseva stuns Haddad Maia before sparking crowd controversy in Melbourne
Yulia Putintseva defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday
Yulia Putintseva, 2026 | © Imago / P¨s
Yulia Putintseva staged a trademark comeback on Sunday to eliminate world No. 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round of the Australian Open. Despite trailing by a set and a break, the Kazakh world No. 74 relied on her renowned defensive grit and variety to secure a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory.
The match shifted in the second set as Putintseva began throwing her entire bag of tricks at the Brazilian, using frequent dropshots and high-looping balls to disrupt Haddad Maia’s rhythm. The intensity reached a peak during the final set, with Putintseva surviving a marathon service game to close out the match after over two and a half hours on court.
Controversy and provocation
The victory was punctuated by controversy as she appeared to provoke the Australian crowd during her post-match celebration. Putintseva has a long history of volatile interactions with spectators at Melbourne Park, and her gestures following the final point drew immediate boos from the stands and sparked heated debate across social media platforms.
The Kazakh will next face the winner of the encounter between 20th seed Marta Kostyuk and Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot. For Haddad Maia, the loss represents a disappointing start to the season after her strong 2025 campaign, while Putintseva remains one of the tour’s most dangerous unseeded players in the draw.
