Paula Badosa before the Australian Open: A personal best ready to be pulverized
Paula Badosa heads into the Australian Open with the confidence of winning the title at the WTA 500 event in Sydney. In a tournament in which the second round should have been the highest of emotions for the Spaniard so far. That should change in 2022.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 15, 2022, 07:24 pm
It was an exciting, high-quality final that should be on offer on the last day of Saturday's top-seeded WTA 500 event in Sydney. Paula Badosa, number six in the tennis world, against Barbora Krejcikova, the current number four. A final that kept what it promised. Two sets and twelve games in round three could not determine a winner, so an all-important tie-break had to judge about the title honors.
In the end it was the Spaniard Badosa who prevailed 7:4 in the short decision - and was able to win her third title on the WTA tour. The balance of the world number six of that tournament week was correspondingly positive: "I'm very happy about this victory and even more so after making progress during the tournament. It was an incredible week, which today resulted in a great win against a renowned player as Krejcikova culminated," said Badosa.
Australian Open results expandable
Overall, in this final, small details tipped the scales in the Spaniard's favor, as she explained. In the head-to-head with the Czech, Badosa was able to increase to 3-0. An important self-confidence booster also with regard to the Australian Open, which will start on Monday: "This victory gives me a lot of self-confidence for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season," said the 24-year-old for the quarter-finals of the French Open should represent the best Grand Slam result.
Already on Monday, the 24-year-old is about improving her previous personal best at the Australian Open - the Spaniard has only reached the second round once so far: "I'm a bit tired, but my first game is on Monday. I have to fly to Melbourne tonight so let's see how I recover. I'll do my best. I play tennis at a high level. I'm looking forward to my debut in this tournament."