The Spanish Paula Badosawho said goodbye this Wednesday to WTA 1,000 in Rome after losing to Latvian Jelena Ostapenkomaking sure he gets good feelings from his time in the Italian capital and he believes he is “on the right track”.
Badosa again fought for the semifinals in a tournament of this category, but met an Ostapenko who brought out her best version.
“I was a bit on the limit,” the Spanish woman admitted to EFE in the mixed zone. “In the end I had a lot of games, long games, and yesterday I didn’t have a rest day but well, it wasn’t something I could control so it was the conditions that touched me,” he added.
The Latvian was overwhelmed in the first set, but Badosa responded in the second and battled back in the third.
“She played very, very well. In the end I tried to hold on as long as I could, I tried to be there, pull her back, try to be a little more aggressive… But well, in the end she also very difficult for me” , pointed out one from Begur, who always felt that he could reach the semifinals.
“I have always felt that I could take it with me. I try to fight until the last point. I think that physically it was costing me a bit, I was already going to the limit at those moments, but I have always continued to believe me,” he commented.
The humidity these days has benefited the Latvian, according to the Spaniard: “Maybe today’s game benefits him more because he shoots less, misses less and is more comfortable. This is something I know from the beginning and I have to play with that”.
Despite everything, Badosa left the Foro Italico with good feelings.
“It’s been several weeks now that I think they’re going from less to more, they’re being positive, I’m feeling good, I’m winning good games. Obviously I’d like to reach the final rounds but this is a process and I think I’m on the right track”, he explained.
Badosa won her time in Rome to be seeded in Paris and move up seven places in the WTA rankings, to 28.
“It’s always important in a Grand Slam, more than anything to not find yourself with the best in the first rounds. For me it’s something important but hey, in the end you play whoever mo, they are a very tough match,” he said.
Since his team change, led by Spaniards Edu Esteve and Pol Toledo, Badosa seems to have found his best version.
“They give me stability, they make me feel lighter on the court, they give me freshness… They also give me a lot in terms of playing style, I’m becoming more aggressive. I think I’m going more for my shot, that I think my style of play should be like this”, commented.
Badosa is already eyeing Roland Garros, but her goal is to continue “enjoying and improving along the way.”
“Now, rest for a few days. I have many games and days in a row. Then prepare for Paris, which I will go to soon. This is an important tournament for me and I want to continue to have fun and -improve along the way,” he said.
Source: La Verdad
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