The exciting Paula Badosa, in the quarterfinals of Rome after a tight match of 3h.04′

If the face is the mirror of the soul, Paula Badosa He exudes with more transparency every day the determination in his game that took him to world number 2 just over a year ago. Bold, confident in his shots, commanding with his forehand and shooting with his backhand, the Catalan tennis player took another step forward by winning a very physically and mentally demanding match against in Karolina Muchova.

Now relegated to 35th place in the rankings after an injury-plagued start to the season, a sensational Badosa prevailed against the Czech after 3h.04′ of an intense battle on the beautiful Pietrangeli track, surrounded by massive white Roman statues printing. in the coolest place possible: 6-4, 6-7 (4) and 6-2 and a ticket to the quarterfinals of WTA 1,000 in Romewhere they will face the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (20th), with 2-1 for Paula in their head-to-head matches.

Already sending very positive signals in his last tournaments, this victory will further boost Badosa’s morale, good news for him in Roland Garros on the corner, the grand slam which will crown the demanding European tour on clay from May 28 to June 11. Ostapenko, her next rival, at the same age (25 years), won Paris in 2017.

In addition to her offensive tennis, dangerous for any rival when she is in tune, Paula showed mental strength before Muchova that she lacked in other occasions when making mistakes. A match is usually full of mini-matches and, in this context, the Spaniard knows how to row very well against the wind and accelerate its presence in his favor. Another sign of great tennis players.

Like Badosa, Muchova, semifinalist of australia tomorrow In 2021, she already has a ranking that is far from her real level (52nd), because the Czech also has very complete tennis and squeezed Paula beautifully from start to finish. In fact, Karolina (2-4) was ahead in the first set, but there was the irreducible version of the Catalan who appeared and chained four games in a row to score the first set 6-4.

Paula did another safety exercise in the second round: if Muchova went up three times with a break, three times the Spaniard recovered, always believing in the rotation of the situation, as well as when the Czech was 3-5 in favor.

With both tennis players playing some tough points, Badosa leveled the set (5-5) and took the lead after a very long game where she needed up to seven game balls to hold her serve (6-5). . Muchova forced the tiebreak and closed out the second set with a drop shot, a resource she used often, but it was less effective in the final set.

Hesitant later in similar situations, Badosa accepted the loss of the second set with integrity and entered the third set with great spirit: his first break was the best sign of that confidence. The Catalan had the ball to get 4-1 and a serve to relaunch his options, but Muchova, regardless of the mistake, did not give up and was still in the neck (3-2).

It was her last hurray as Paula, also physically fitter, continued to lead the exchanges and then earned a second break (5-2) which was the start of another breakthrough in Rome (6-2). inviting him to wake up from the dream. upwards.