Paula Badosa, who started Roland Garros in 139th place, leaves him closer to the goal of returning to the top 100. He is one victory away from achieving it.
Aryna Sabalenkathe world number two and double champion of the Australian Open, was too big an obstacle to face for Pol Toledo’s pupil, a victim with a score of 7-5 and 6-1, in 1 hour and 17 minutes.
. Sabalenka has five wins in a row against one of her best friends on the circuit. The difference between the two is great, both on a tennis and physical level.
Badosa, who had not played for Philippe Chatrier since the first round of 2022, won the draw and chose to serve. He finished the first game with a double fault. The game was going long and he reacted immediately afterwards. He knew the weak points of his rival, who got nervous every time he missed break points. Up to five in just two games to the rest.
The pressure was clearly on Sabalenka, the second favorite in the draw and who is chasing, without luck, the WTA title that Iga Swiatek took from her at the Cancun Women’s Masters.
Badosa connected services at 193 kilometers per hour. Her back problems were nowhere to be seen.
To find the last time they had beaten a top 10 player, we had to go back to the Rome team, in their 2023 edition. They beat Ons Jabeur (7) in the second round. 386 days had passed.
That tournament was a turning point in the season because the back injury that still persists occurred.
The net spat a ball next to the Minsk tennis player that gave Paula a 4-2 lead. The one who hit harder, deeper and on the white line was the Spanish one.
Sabalenka wasted all the break options with meaningless shots that went two meters wide. The statistics reflected 1/8. He looked for it so much that finally the break came with 4-3. The duel was at a frenetic pace, without respite.
The Belarusian likes to attack and that is why she does not know how to defend. Badosa served at 5-3 to tip the opening round in his favor. Their opponent grew in the face of adversity, scoring four games in a row.
In the continuation it was a monologue. Four more games linked by the winner for a final partial of 10 to 1. Paula, however, had time to avoid her donut. It was after he kicked the racket.
Doubles with her boyfriend on Sunday
Badosa’s performance has not finished. His fans are in luck as he will play the mixed doubles with Stefanos Tsitsipas. The game was scheduled this Saturday for the third shift on court 6. The rain moved it to Sunday.
Sabalenka does not have clay court tennis like Iga Swiatek, but she was able to stand up to the Pole in the last final of the Mutua Madrid Open –I enjoyed three match balls– and repeated the fight for the title at the Foro Itlico in Rome.
Badosa equals the third round of 2022, but it is far from the quarterfinals of 2021, its limit in the tournament.
Aryna, for her part, advances steadily to the round of 16. It is worth remembering that last season they reached the semifinals.
