Paula Badosa introduced flexibility and firepower to her Madrid return.
In her first match as new world No. 2, Badosa burst by means of 9 straight video games dismissing 2021 Charleston champion Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-0.
Badosa, who reached the Madrid semifinals as a wild card final 12 months, gained 4 of the final six video games at love, together with throwing down three straight love holds to seal a 65-minute shellacking that sends her right into a blockbuster Madrid second spherical.
The second-seeded Spaniard will face former world No. 1 Simona Halep for the primary time with a spherical of 16 spot on the road. Badosa mentioned she’s pumped for the event.
“I feel my persona was it is all the time that it is a pleasure and it is a good check,” Badosa mentioned. “I feel these sort of matches give me—I play excessive stage. I attempt to give my greatest there and I like them.
“I feel it is a little bit bit related once I performed the Indian Wells closing. In these sort of instances, I like these sort of matches. I do know it is gonna be on heart court docket, possibly late-night match.
“I am actually trying ahead to those sort of matches, as a result of I actually like them and it is the matches that you simply work for, you understand. I’ll attempt to give my greatest, and I hope folks can get pleasure from as a result of I’ll attempt to make a great match.”
The 2021 Indian Wells champion didn’t drop serve saving all 5 break factors she confronted at this time.
Two-time Madrid champion Halep fired 4 aces and saved 4 of 5 break factors in a 6-2, 6-3 win over Zhang Shuai in her opener.
On the floor, the second rounder pits Halep’s easy motion and correct counter-punching towards Badosa’s energy and shotmaking. The Spaniard mentioned she expects two-time Grand Slam champion Halep to push her “to the bounds.”
“It is going to be powerful. I feel she has a fairly good clay court docket recreation,” Badosa mentioned. “She gained Roland Garros, what can I say?
“However I feel it’ll be attention-grabbing match, as a result of it’ll be fairly a clay court docket match very tactically, and I am actually trying ahead to that. In fact she’s an ideal champion. So possibly I am the favourite or no, I’ll attempt to give my greatest, as a result of for certain she is going to push me to the bounds.” Photograph credit score: Getty