Paula Badosa started her campaign in an absolutely brutish fashion. She won the final nine games as she defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-0 to set up a second-round thrilling encounter with Simona Halep. The recently turned world number 2, Badosa will be craving a tournament win, and what would be better than winning the tournament in front of the home crowd. The absence of world number 1, Iga Swiatek will certainly make things a little bit easier for other participants.

Veronica Kudermetova is ranked 22 in the world and Badosa was able to bagel her to a straight-set victory. The next round encounter sets up two highly regarded players in women’s tennis. The surprising fact is that Halep and Badosa have never faced each other on the court.

Post-match interview and the road ahead for Paula Badosa

Badosa was really happy with her play and she explained her preparation and game plan against Kudermetova in the post-match interview with the WTA. She said: “Kudermetova is aggressive, I knew I had to play my game, not to let her dominate a lot,”. She also added, “So that’s what I tried to do. I think at the beginning I was nervous, but then I finished playing in a very high level.”

Badosa got the better of Kudermetova a player who had previously caused her a lot of trouble, with Kudermetova having won their first three matches.

Badosa will be up against Simona Halep who has got a new coach in her camp, the renowned former coach of Serena Williams, Patrick Mouratoglou. Halep will be tested by Badosa if the new coach was able to put some of that winning touch in just a few weeks they started working together. Ranking-wise Badosa is a favorite to win the match but the margins are quite small given both players’ caliber.

Badosa also agreed that in an interview as per WTA, she said: “I think it’s going to be an interesting match, because it’s going to be quite a clay-court match very tactically, and I’m really looking forward to that.”

She added, “Of course she’s a great champion. So maybe I’m the favorite or no, I will try to give my best, because for sure she will push me to the limits.”I’m really looking forward to this kind of matches because I really like them and it’s the matches that you work for, you know.”

Also Read: “Iga Swiatek needs to retire” Paula Badosa jokes about how can she replace the Pole as World No. 1

ncG1vNJzZmiemafAtb%2FPqKmtsl6YvK57056lp6GjYrumw9JmsKitXam1qrrKZqCmZaSdsm6ywK%2Bmq6GkmnqxrdSlmGaakZm8tK2MnKannpmZsq%2FAjJqfnpmUYrynecGlppyjkqrAtbHRZpqlmaOdeqKzwKKlrKxdqLauu82aZKGZnJq9bq3TZqSanKKesXA%3D