‘I Couldn’t Control My Emotions’ – Defending Indian Wells Champion Paula Badosa Recalls Her Struggling Days on the Tour

Eyeing to defend her title, Paula Badosa is in the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells). The fifth seed has had a decent run in the tournament so far, reaching the quarterfinals without dropping a set. In the fourth round, she outplayed the 2021 US Open runner-up, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. During the match, Badosa struggled a bit with her serve. However, she covered the lag by hitting 23 winners and saving 5 out of 6 breakpoints to win 6-4,6-4.

Talking to the media post her fourth-round win, Paula emphasized on getting better every day. She 2021 Indian Wells champion also spoke about her tennis level getting better steadily. She said, “I think I’m playing every day better and better. I’m feeling my tennis is getting higher, the level. I’m very happy about today and the win.” 

The struggling period of Paula Badosa

Even though the Spaniard has been on a high note in the ongoing tournament, that hasn’t been the case in her career. Entering the professional circuit in 2015, Badosa first played in the main draw at the 2015 WTA 1000 Miami Open, reaching the third round. She played her next main draw WTA match in 2016, again in Miami. However, unlike last year, she suffered a first-round loss this time. Struggling for four years, it was finally in 2019 that Badosa broke into the Top 100.

However, the struggle was not over yet. Grappling through the tournaments, in 2020 the 24-year-old reached her first Grand Slam fourth round at the Roland Garros. Continuing to fight against the difficult odds, it was after the semifinals of the 2020 Madrid Open that Paula entered the Top 50.

Opening upon her 5-year-long struggle, Badosa said, “It was not because I didn’t want to win or I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to, but I was so frustrated that I couldn’t control my emotions.” “I was getting very negative very soon. That is what was making me not fight,” she further added.

Rising up from the struggle

Having a confidence boost, entering the Top 50, Paula won her first WTA tournament at the WTA 250 Serbia Ladies Open. Continuing her successful run, Paula went on to win the 2021 Indian Wells title. The win gave Paula an entry into the Top 10. She ended her year reaching by reaching the semifinals in the WTA Finals, Guadalajara.

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Even though she started her 2022 with a first-round loss at Adelaide International 1, she made a comeback in the very next tournament, winning the Syndey Open. The win was followed by a 4th round loss at the Australian open. Even though she suffered early round exits in Dubai and Qatar, she has made a comeback at the Indian wells.

Recalling her initial struggle, Badosa confessed that she was mentally weak. She said, “I was very bad mentally. I wasn’t a fighter,” “Maybe two years ago I was struggling a lot. I don’t remember exactly, but I think it was two and a half years ago I was top hundred, so it was very fast.”

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Opening up on how she rose up from her struggling phase, the Spaniard asserted that she set a personal goal of fighting for every point in every match. “Since then, I have changed a little bit. It was like a goal for me personally and a challenge that I did myself, to fight every point no matter what, no matter my feelings in the match. I’m very happy because I think I’m doing it every match, or that’s what I try.”