“I don’t arrive as I would like” Paula Badosa sceptical of her chances at the 2022 French Open
Paula Badosa
World No. 3 Paula Badosa has been in good form this season having won a title while making deep runs in various events. The Spaniard who made a late charge to qualify for the 2021 WTA Finals last year started the season from where she left off and it was visible during her stint in Australia and the subsequent hardcourt season.
Paula has achieved good numbers since the Clay season of the last year and that has contributed immensely to her boost in ranking as she was outside the Top-50 at the start of last season and is now well placed inside the Top-10 of the WTA rankings. As she prepares to feature in the 2022 French Open which begins on 22nd May, Badosa, a former Junior champion at the Grand Slam and last year’s semi-finalist talked about her goals for this year as unlike last year, she carries the tag of being one of the title contenders.
“It is a very emotional tournament for me, it means a lot. I won when I was a junior and I have many good memories. I would like to do well. It’s something that has come to me suddenly. I always believed in myself, but I didn’t expect it from one day to the next, it’s not easy to carry. You go from not being so well known to being very exposed, people expect you to win every game. It’s something I’m learning to manage.
“I don’t arrive as I would like. I would prefer to have more peace of mind, to be less exposed. From the clay tour, I would have changed not to play a tournament, I’m not going to say which one. Physically, I am prepared, I have worked very well. But, mentally, I would like to arrive a little calmer. I’m looking forward to it, that’s always, and nervous. It’s special and important. Last year it went well for me, although I was left with a thorn in my side, I hope it goes better,” said Badosa speaking with Diario AS.
Paula Badosa’s season heading into the French Open
After suffering a defeat in her season debut in Adelaide, Badosa bounced back strongly in Sydney capturing the title by Barbora Krejcikova. She then reached the 4th round in the 2022 Australian Open as well. Badosa peaked during the Sunshine Double as she reached the semi-finals in Indian Wells and then the quarter-finals in Miami.
She even started the Clay season in good touch making the quarter-finals in the 2022 Charleston Open followed by a semi-final run in the 2022 Stuttgart Open. She however saw a sudden dip in form making third-round exits from both the WTA-1000 events in Madrid and Rome. Nevertheless, she has cemented her place well in the Top-5 having started the season as World No. 8 and rising as high as World No. 2 before coming back to the 3rd spot.
Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)