Paula Badosa took a giant step at the US Open, confirming the great prospects shown over the summer. Champion of the WTA 500 in Washington and semifinalist of the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, she has every possible argument to dream big in the last Grand Slam of the season.
He fears that New York, the city of his birth 26 years ago, will once again stand in his way. He has never excelled in the event, but in his current state of form, full of tennis and confidence, there are no impossible obstacles for the Catalan.
He has already set a personal record at the US Open. He finally succeeded in the second round, his limit in 2021 and 2022. He did not participate in 2023 due to a serious lumbar injury that put his career in check last season.
He will play in his first round of 32 at the US Open. He won it by defeating the American Taylor Townsend28 years old and number 48, 6-3 and 7-5 in 1h.40′. He came back from 3-5 down in the second set, posting a 4-0 run that allowed him to clinch the major at Flushing Meadows.
And the draw also opened up a bit because the current Wimbledon champion, the Czech Barbora Krejcikovahe surprisingly bowed before the Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse6-4 and 7-5.
Badosa’s unexpected opponent in the third round, against a 26-year-old player and world number 61, will be playing in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time, in his tenth attempt. From the previous episode.
Although the note on Badosa and Ruse It went in favor of the Romanian, who won 6-3, 5-7 and 6-4 at Dubai 2022, also on hard court.
That was a good time for the girl from Girona, which she is trying to get back now, making her little revenge today in Ruse. He is approaching the top-20, when just a few months ago he was outside the top-100 and was forced to forgo the Paris Olympic Games to score points in the tournaments that awarded them.
Badosa has only one minor problem in the overall context of its performance. The double mistake They continue to be disabled at critical moments. He made 8, which meant losing serve twice. To his credit, he is not driven by impatience. Get the thing, don’t let it punish you more than it should.
Think positively, and it will show in certain moments. He was cornered by Townsend’s aggressiveness, more ferocious than at the last Australian Open (6-1 and 6-3 for the Spaniard), but even at 3-5 Badosa didn’t stop believing. It was quick, four games in a row to dampen the opposition’s euphoria. Being consistent, not giving anything away.
On Friday, Badosa-Ruse clashed, in a sector where the most prominent rival for a place in the quarterfinals was Paula’s friend, Victoria Azarenka. The quarterfinals are so far the Spaniard’s best result at a Grand Slam, at Roland Garros 2021. Both at Wimbledon and at the Australian Open, a round of 16 is now within his reach at the US Open.
This Thursday he will prepare by fulfilling his dream of officially debuting in mixed doubles. Stefanos Tsitsipas, rested more despite himself as he lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the opening round of the men’s singles.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
