Paula Badosa: “This is a radical change, one of the extremes”

Paula Badosa finished the circuit season in style. In the middle of a radical change from the first section of the course to the last one where she rubbed shoulders with the best in the world and where she climbed almost one hundred places in the WTA classification to settle in the fifteen best in the world .

“This is a radical change, of extremes. A bit like me and noticed that“said the Catalan player who became number two in the world in 2022 and is now preparing for the Billie Jean King Finals as the leader of the Spanish team.

The Spanish player rushes to the end of the course, eager to take the leadership of the national team and who is already thinking about the rivalry with the one who has dominated the circuit in recent times, Iga Swiatek, who announced his presence in the Polish team, which is Spain’s rival.

Paula Badosa, in an interview with Agencia EFE, A great tennis event awaits in Malaga, with the Billie Jean King Cupthe Davis Cup and Rafa Nadal’s farewell that he thought about with sadness and nostalgia.

Malaga supports its set-up. Almost everything has been sold out for the clash between Spain and Poland, although tickets can still be bought online (www.billiejeankingcup.com).

Q: Paula, how do you feel after your last tournaments? He retired in the semifinals of Ningbo and closed a spectacular run to the title in Washington, semifinals in Beijing and Cincinnati and quarterfinals at the United States Open.

“The truth is that I am very happy for the year; obviously, at the beginning of the season, it was a little more difficult; the back did not respond the way I expected and we finally found a solution. It stopped hurting and I can start training harder and I think, in my case, if my body respects me, I know the results will come sooner or later.”

“Obviously I did not expect, perhaps, such a rapid change, but the truth is that I am very happy with the level; especially with all the games that I played in the second half of the year until now I have also been able to play often , which is something that worries me, too, in injury.”

“So, for now, everything seems to be going great. I have finished the season, I have Malaga, the Billie Jean King Cup, which is something that is also excites me to be able to represent my country and play at home, I also I think this is something very beautiful and I look forward to it.

– Q: The change has been radical from one mid-period to the next. Semifinals in the last tournament, the title in Washington, quarterfinals in the United States Open. It turned out to be another Paula Badosa. It seems different and different.

A: “Yes, I’m a bit extreme and I think it’s a bit noticed here; but it’s a great change. I’m very happy, I think I also have a great team that helps me every day to improve, to develop and I believe that all the hard work that has been done has also been seen on the track and in the results.

– Q: And about that change, about these new sensations… What are you most proud of?

A: “I think, above all, the change I made mentally, to overcome those obstacles in the end. I fell into, let’s say, a very dark hole, especially in Madrid, in the middle of the year , where I didn’t see the light At that moment I was struggling and I think I got a lot of strength from that faith in myself, I’ve believed in myself, but obviously in these moments you doubt more, the more insecurities are coming to you literally became that.

– Q. In these last tournaments you managed to beat players at the top of the ranking and you lost narrowly and in three sets with other top players. Will we soon see Paula Badosa again in the middle of and since you have also beaten players from the top of the ranking, you have barely lost to others. Are we facing the possibility of seeing Paula again at number two in the world like two seasons ago?

– A: “I hope so; this is my goal. Since I started the year in January I have always said that I want to be one of the best in the world again. This is something I am very clear about and I train every day for that and there I am again So I’ll start the year with that idea too. even more than the best in the world, that “This is what I want in the end. I want to play in the final rounds, I want to compete with the best in the world and see where my level is.”

Q: At this late stage, presence at the WTA Finals, at least as one of the reserves, is a real possibility for you.

– A: “Yes, but it’s never been, actually, it’s never been my goal, it’s not my goal to go to the Masters Cup. This year my goal is to be as high as possible; think four months ago I was 120th in the world and for me to now be 10th or 11th in the ranking was already a lot that was not in my plan to enter the Finals and I also think that what I should learn is to choose tournaments. and take care of myself physically and mentally if it becomes “One goal is to try to play Wuhan or I tried to play Tokyo today. “

Q: Now you’re focused on the Billy Yankee finals, which will be a bit of a culmination of the season. Last year he was in Seville with the team even though he didn’t play, it’s not the same situation. He is now the leader of the group.

– A: “Yes, and I like it. I want to be the leader and to advance the team. I will try to give as much as possible, give the highest level so that the team Advances. It will be a very good experience that I have never played to Billie Jean King last year and it’s something that stays with me, and on top of that I have the opportunity to compete against one of the best in the world, which is “Iga Swiatek and the fact that I’m looking forward to playing of that game.”

Q: Does it create more pressure for you?

– A: “It doesn’t scare me, it motivates me, I like that kind of pressure, I like that responsibility. It’s something I’ve mentally prepared and waiting for the moment to come .”

Q: Were you surprised by Iga Swiatek’s decision to go to Billie Jean King when she wasn’t on the team at first?

– A: “Yes and no. I was surprised because at first he was not registered, but I am not surprised either. He is a player who always wants to represent his country. Obviously, if he goes, Poland has many options to do well and it’s also something normal as a professional goal for him going there to try to win a Billie Jean King is a challenge for him, so I understand that because the same thing is happening to me, it is. something that is a goal for me.

Q: Now with Paula Badosa, who can beat anyone and with a doubles team that includes Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes, bronze at the Olympic Games, can Spain go all out in Malaga?

– A: “We have always had a good team. And what Spain does is that they are always going to fight and give one hundred percent and I think that is something very important in a team competition. So, knowing Well, there is an good level, there is also a good doubles, you do not know and more so in this format.

Q: Malaga will be a party; the Billie Jean King, the Davis Cup, Rafa Nadal’s farewell. Everything will be concentrated in Malaga, Spain for those fifteen days.

– A: “Totally. It’s going to be something very nice, very emotional, obviously sad at the same time because a legend like Rafa Nadal is leaving, but I think he has chosen a very nice place, at home and I think it’s going to be something very emotional.”

Q: What did you think when you saw Rafa Nadal’s farewell video for the first time?

– A: “I was touched; in the end you also returned to your childhood, to your principles. I will never forget my principles, which inspire me and watch all the games, all the finals that’s with Rafa making a great comeback. I think it’s been a great player in the legend, but I think he’s a player who has the ability to move people; think I’m missing him a lot on the circuit and he was always an idol for me.

Q: When you think of Rafa, what is the first image that comes to your mind?

– A: “Well, I remember the first time he did the show he did at the Davis Cup many years ago, when I met him, when he won his first Roland Garros. I have many images of him; more than everything, For me, what inspires me about Rafa are all those comebacks, those moments where things don’t go well;

Q: Did you talk to him after his announcement?

– A: “No, but he was always a person who helped me a lot, even with my injury he gave me advice because in the end he was a person who was hurt and helped me and gave me. A lot is said about him, but I want to give him time because I know that for him now is a very intense moment and I don’t like to intrude on spaces.. So I will wait a little, but obviously I will.

Q: This is an obvious cycle change in tennis. Roger Federer is gone, Nadal is leaving, Novak Djokovic is in the final stretch, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are out…

A: “Yes, obviously with Sinner and Alcaraz it is a brutal generation and we will enjoy that a lot, but I believe that what we experienced we will never experience again. And well, that shows that time passed fast, that “You have to enjoy everything, all the great athletes and it’s a shame, yes, because I think we’re all sad.”

Q: Going back to Billie Jean King, do you like this format or do you prefer the old one with home and away playoffs?

– A: “I have played this format a couple of times and I like it; Obviously I might say this because we also play at home, so for us nothing seems to have changed, in quotes. Maybe I’m not the right person to speak exactly, but we want to play at home.”

Q: Which Paula will we see next season?

– A: “I’m going to try to give my best; I think I’m at a good level; I’m already thinking about preseason, about things to improve to be better next year and I hope you see this Paula at the end of the year or better.”