WTA Indian Wells: Paula Badosa with target WTA Finals - "Nothing is impossible"
Paula Badosa has surprisingly won the Indian Wells WTA 1000 event. Now the Spaniard has high goals for the rest of the season.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 18, 2021, 06:54 pm
A lot was different in Indian Wells in 2021. On the one hand the historical absence of the "Big Three", Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who skipped the tournament due to injury, but also for personal reasons - as in the Novak Djokovic case. On the other hand, the date in autumn: an alternative scenario after a staging in spring - as usual - became impossible due to the COVID-related restrictions. A shift with consequences, as this meant extremely slow courts. To the delight of lovers of long baseline rallies. To the annoyance of many active people.
In any case, there were plenty of long baseline rallies in the women's final at Indian Wells this year. The best example: the set ball from Paula Badosa, who finished a seemingly endless baseline battle with a backhand cross ball, well worth seeing. It was also the Spaniard who finally won the final after a good three hours of playing time. With remarkable statistics, the final opponent Azarenka not only had more points and breaks on the credit side, but also in terms of defeated winners and avoided unforced errors.
Badosa looks up at Azarenka
It was a tough match, Badosa also summed up after her biggest career title to date. Both players would have played at an incredible level. "After losing the second set, I knew that I had to raise my level if I wanted to have a chance to win this game," said the Spaniard at the press conference after her triumph. "I fought for every ball like it was the last and that was the key to victory. The fact that I was at the limit in the third set didn't affect me at all."
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It could well have been her best match this calendar year, Bados said when asked. And that although the final was a roller coaster ride of emotions for her, the 23-year-old already felt the great tension before the match. Also because of her final opponent Azarenka: A player she had looked up to since her youth: "I had a player like Vika in front of me, a great champion. And who I have admired since I was little," said Badosa.
Badosa: "Nothing is impossible"
For the 23-year-old, the triumph in Indian Wells is further confirmation of the great condition in which the Spaniard presented herself throughout the season. Badosa started the year at number 87 on the WTA charts, and now a place among the top ten in the women's tennis world is within reach. Accordingly, Badosa also sees the chance to get hold of a ticket for the WTA Finals. "My goal is to play the WTA finals. If I can do it sooner, I'll rest a few days before I play the Fed Cup," said the Spaniard. As of now, Badosa is the last qualified player in eighth place - but not even 100 points separate the Spaniard from her first pursuer Ons Jabeur.
For Paula Badosa, however, this week was a confirmation that anything is possible in tennis, like the 13th in the world rankings. emphasized: "What I've learned this week is that nothing is impossible. If you fight and work hard, you can achieve anything. Sometimes you have difficult moments and yet you must never stop dreaming." Exactly this knowledge would have helped her in the finale to believe in herself until the last moment. And led to the fact that this was ultimately a moment of victory.