Paula Badosa is looking forward to playing her best friend Aryna Sabalenka as she jokingly expressed a desire to see the Belarusian miss a lot during their Stuttgart match. Badosa, a former world No 2, is set to meet reigning Australian Open champion Sabalenka in the Stuttgart quarterfinal.
When Badosa and Sabalenka meet in Stuttgart, it will be their fourth meeting. Badosa owns a 2-1 head-to-head record against Sabalenka, who is one of her best friends on the Tour. “I think she’s playing unbelievable this year.
She’s a very tough opponent, 1 of the best in the world. I like these kind of challenges, I know it’s gonna be a big one tomorrow. I’m ready for it. I hope she misses a lot,” Badosa said of playing Sabalenka, per The Tennis Letter.
Paula Badosa on facing Aryna Sabalenka in Stuttgart: “I think she’s playing unbelievable this year. She’s a very tough opponent, 1 of the best in the world. I like these kind of challenges, I know it’s gonna be a big 1 tomorrow.
I’m ready for it… I hope she misses a lot”ð pic.twitter.com/v4puRZRwAT — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 20, 2023
Badosa beat Cristina Bucsa to set up a Sabalenka match
Badosa, who is unseeded in Stuttgart this year, saw off 77th-ranked Bucsa 6-1 6-2.
Badosa saved a break point in the first game of the match, before earning the first break of the match in the second game. In the third game, Badosa saved two more break points to open a 3-0 lead. Badosa broke Bucsa again in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead, before serving out for the first set in the following game.
After winning the first set, Badosa started the second set with three consecutive breaks and a 5-0 lead. But Bucsa refused to quit, getting one break back and serving out the seventh game to cut the deficit to 5-2. However, Badosa kept her focus and managed to close out the match in the eighth game.
“I know it was a tricky match. She’s been playing well this year, she came from qualies so she won tough matches. We’ve known each other since we were little girls so I’m happy for her, happy she got into top 100 this year, she really deserves it,” Badosa said.
Paula Badosa on beating Bucsa: “I know it was a tricky match. She’s been playing well this year, she came from qualies so she won tough matches. We’ve known each other since we were little girls so I’m happy for her, happy she got into top 100 this year, she really deserves it” pic.twitter.com/yaaYhFZhEC — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 20, 2023
Source: Tennis World USA