Beatriz Haddad Maia continues her winning ways…

The 26-year-old Brazilian tennis player, who defeated top-ranked Iga Swiatek to reach the National Bank Open quarterfinals, has pulled off another three-set upset.

Haddad Maia reached the semifinals on Friday after overcoming No.12 seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Haddad Maia, ranked a career-high World No.24, took 2 hours and 11 minutes to battle past 2015 National Bank Open champion Bencic.

This week, Haddad Maia has become the first Brazilian to reach the quarterfinals, and now the semifinals, of a WTA 1000 tournament.

Haddad Maia came into the quarterfinals with her career-best win by ranking behind her, having toppled World No.1 Swiatek in the previous round. Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman to beat a current No.1 player with her upset of Swiatek.

However, Bencic had a history of success against Haddad Maia coming into Friday’s clash. Not only had Bencic defeated the Brazilian in their only tour-level match earlier this year in Sydney, she also beat Haddad Maia en route to her 2013 Junior Roland Garros title.

But the third time proved to be the charm for Haddad Maia, who garnered the upset to continue her breakthrough season.

Haddad Maia claimed her first two WTA singles titles earlier this year, in back-to-back weeks on the grass courts of Nottingham and Birmingham.

“It’s nice because Brazil is huge, so we have Brazilians everywhere. So I always feel the energy. Someone is always screaming, ‘Vamos Beatriz.’ And today I saw a lot of Brazilian flags. And I feel very proud of us,” said Haddad Maia of her win.

Haddad Maia is into her fifth semifinal at tour-level this season. Only Swiatek (8) and Simona Halep (7) have reached more semifinals on the WTA Tour in 2022.

For her semifinal opponent, Haddad Maia awaits the winner of the late quarterfinal between former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova and rising teenager Zheng Qinwen.