Badosa’s hunger

“I’m super hungry”, warns Paula Badosa about her intentions at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara (Mexico) minutes after feasting in front of the world’s number two, Aryna Sabalenka, whom he defeated 6-4 and 6-0 in 1h: 16 after endorsing him ten games in a row. A real hurricane.

Her debut in the Women’s Masters, where she is already the fourth Spanish to participate after Garbiñe Muguruza, Conchita Martínez and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, could not be better. This Saturday (9:00 pm, TDP and DAZN), she could seal her place in the semifinals by defeating Maria Sakkari (6th in the world), who crushed Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-4. “Each game is complicated and it will be a battle, because here are the best in the world, but I am very motivated to be in Mexico,” she summarized at the end after receiving the support of an audience that seems to have found their favorite.

Badosa returned to the slopes 25 days after triumphing in Indian Wells, the fifth big, and also premiered in el top-ten in difficult altitude conditions (almost 1,600 meters). But he managed it with astonishing tranquility. Swiatek lost to Sakkari and burst into tears in despair as the Greek served to win the match. Sabalenka also appeared frustrated at the press conference after having blew a 4-2 lead in the first set to concede ten games in a row. She finished with 31 unforced errors and eight double faults as the Spaniard took advantage of the five break balls at her disposal. The balls fly and the misalignments are palpable … except for Badosa.

“I understand Iga and Aryna, their impotence. It is very difficult to play here. There are times when everything gets out of control due to the height. I played a great game. My great improvement is knowing how to suffer and what I am not going to allow myself is not to fight some point, “synthesized the Spanish, who will turn 24 on Monday, about his comebacks.

This year, the tennis player born in New York and raised in Begur (Girona) has defeated four top-ten: Barty (Charleston), Swiatek (Tokyo), Sabalenka (Cincinnati and Guadalajara) and Krejcikova (Indian Wells).

“You have to have stability in your life and enjoy. I am very clear now what I want in my life. And I want to progress and improve every day. It is the only way. I have learned a lot in recent months, “he said about his state of grace. In Guadalajara she is accompanied by her parents; his partner, Cuban actor Juan Betancourt, and his coach Jorge García, with whom she returned in September after he had trained her as a junior.

After Indian Wells he traveled to Spain and did not stop, but he knew how to combine it with tennis. “It was one more off-track stress. I have a lot of eyes behind, but the day to day working was good. We did like a ten-day preseason., well physically and mentally resetting. I don’t know what will happen. I hope to continue demonstrating the work, “he closed. Sakkari waits.