Tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia is set to marry her childhood sweetheart, neurosurgeon Alex Daoud, after he proposed with a time capsule that revealed his intention to marry her when he was just 10 years old. Haddad Maia shared the news and images from the time capsule with her Instagram followers.

Daoud presented Haddad Maia with a Tiffany & Co. diamond ring along with a copy of the time capsule he wrote on August 7, 2006. In the message addressed to his future self, Daoud outlined his aspirations, noting that his favorite activities at the time were taekwondo and soccer, and that he wished to become a neurosurgeon. The capsule concluded with the entry, "My dreams are: I want to help people and I want to marry Bia."

Haddad Maia responded to the proposal with a heartfelt message on Instagram. "After so many years, you're still that boy who gives me the same butterflies in my stomach as when we used to play soccer at age six," she wrote, translated from Portuguese. She recalled Daoud asking her to be his girlfriend at age nine, a proposal she initially declined but now reflects on with gratitude, stating, "I confess, I don't regret it. Imagine if this story had taken a different turn. What we lived, learned and achieved to reunite and reconnect today might not have happened."

She added that "time" has reinforced the importance of love and that Daoud continues to win her over daily with his affection. Haddad Maia expressed her hope to "take care of you forever and that we will continue fighting for our dreams together."

The post included childhood photos of Haddad Maia and Daoud playing soccer together, as well as recent images, including one showing Haddad Maia displaying her engagement ring. The announcement garnered nearly 65,000 likes.

Daoud proposed by giving his partner a copy of a time capsule he wrote almost 20 years ago, revealing that his dream was to 'marry Bia'

Haddad Maia, currently ranked 134th in singles and doubles, became the first Brazilian woman to reach the top 10 in the world singles rankings in June 2023. Her career highlights include reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2023 and the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in 2024. She also reached the women's doubles final at the 2022 Australian Open.

Haddad Maia reacted to the proposal by calling Daoud 'still that boy who gives me the same butterflies in my stomach as when we used to play soccer at age six'

The incredibly romantic news has been liked almost 65,000 times online

Haddad Maia (pictured playing at Wimbledon this month) became the first Brazilian woman to break into the top 10 in the world singles rankings