Of suffering virtue

Paula Badosa probably hadn’t suffered so much in her entire career to win a match. It is not the first time that one has come back, but in this case we are talking about a Grand Slam, Roland Garros. The Spanish, who chained seven games without losing a set, the five in Belgrade, where she was champion, and the previous two already in Paris, ran into a very tough, strong, fast and very tactical rival that complicated her life greatly, the Romanian 28 years old and 102nd in the world. To beat it he had to save a match point in the second set and raise a 4-2 in the third. In this way, he made suffering a virtue to win 2-6, 7-6 (4) and 6-4 in 2:51.

Badosa repeats the round of 16 in the French major and will try to improve that result on Sunday against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 20th favorite and finalist in 2019, who beat the Slovenian Hercog by a double 6-3. The growth as a tennis player of the Catalan born in New York is tremendous. She looks more and more physically fine, agile and powerful, although this time her nerves betrayed her at times and the fear of losing gripped her.

He took it out with 36 winning strokes. The last one, with which he sealed a harrowing victory that he could barely celebrate, was a direct rest of the drive to the impressive line. That’s his game and it helps him when the serve doesn’t. Against Bodgan he did not take enough advantage of the first many he placed (73%). For that, and for the 59 unforced errors he made, he lost his serve seven times. He can and should play better, but it is indisputable that he has courage and desire. And one side of the painting without Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka that allows her to dream.

Results, table and calendar.

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