Navigating through the demanding terrain of international tennis, Spanish sensation Paula Badosa is armed with more than just her formidable skills on the court. Her victory at the Mérida Open Akron, a tournament recently elevated from a 250 to a 500-level event, was fueled by the unwavering support of her Spanish fans who kept vigil in the late-night hours, thanks to the time difference with Mexico.
After a less than impressive performance at the Abu Dhabi and Qatar Open, Badosa refocused her energies on the Mérida Open. She faced Jaqueline Cristian in a second-round match, bringing a 1-0 advantage from their previous meeting. Badosa not only fulfilled but exceeded expectations, dominating the first set with a score of 6-2 and escalating her prowess in the second set, leaving Cristian with little room to retaliate. With an impressive tally of 8 aces and 4 break points secured from 10 opportunities, Badosa’s decisive 6-2, 6-1 triumph made a statement.
However, it was her post-match remarks that truly resonated. Acknowledging her fans in Spain who were tuning in at an ungodly hour due to the time difference, Badosa said, “I think I played really well today. The atmosphere today was amazing. I wanted to go a little bit fast today because it’s late, so I think I achieved that. I know there’s people in Spain watching so I want to make them go to sleep early today.”
The match, scheduled for 8:30 PM local time at Mexico’s AKRON Stadium, started when it was already 3:30 AM in Spain, a testament to her fans’ loyalty. Badosa’s consideration for her Spanish supporters, coupled with her swift victory, was widely received with appreciation.
As Badosa prepares to face 121st seed Daria Saville in her second quarterfinal of the season, she is also setting her sights on a mixed doubles Grand Slam run. Her partner in this endeavor? None other than her beau, Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has revamped the mixed doubles format for the upcoming US Open, intending to inject new energy into the event. The matches will now occur a week before the primary draw and will be concluded in an intense two-day period. Early rounds will follow a best-of-three-sets format, with each set being played to four games and no-ad scoring. The tournament will feature 16 teams, with the top eight teams earning their spot based on combined singles rankings.
Badosa and Tsitsipas, who have previously tasted mixed doubles success at a 2024 US Open exhibition event, are preparing to leverage their on-court chemistry for a Grand Slam title. Tsitsipas, the 11th-seed Greek, has made his preference clear, stating, “She’s the mixed doubles partner I would always play with. I don’t have any other options out there or any other female player that I would want to play mixed doubles with. She’s always under my consideration and always someone I would want to share the court with.”
As the couple’s romantic saga continues to unfold, the question arises: can Badosa and Tsitsipas transform their personal chemistry into a winning formula at the US Open? Only time will tell.
