Paula Badosa kicked off her WTA 1000 Dubai campaign with a strong statement, bouncing back from an early exit in Doha to defeat Lulu Sun 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday. The No. 9 seed showed resilience in key moments and relied on her solid serving to advance to the next round.
Despite struggling with break point conversions, converting just three of 14 opportunities, the world No. 10 controlled the match with dominant service games, allowing only one break against her. Now, Badosa will turn her focus to Elise Mertens, who defeated Leylah Fernandez in her opening match.
Badosa’s Route to Victory
The Spanish star started strong, securing an early break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. However, Sun responded immediately, breaking back to level the score. Undeterred, Badosa broke again in the fourth game and never looked back in the first set, serving it out in the ninth game without facing another break point.
The second set was a test of patience. Badosa missed five break points in the third game but eventually found her breakthrough in the fifth game, securing a 4-2 advantage. She had a match point opportunity on Sun’s serve at 5-3, but the Swiss player held strong. However, Badosa sealed the win in the following game, closing out the match in straight sets.
What’s Next for Badosa?
With a confident opening victory, Badosa now faces Elise Mertens, a player known for her all-court game and counterpunching skills. If the No. 9 seed can clean up her break point efficiency, she has a strong chance to continue her Dubai title pursuit and reassert herself among the top contenders.
Can Badosa carry this momentum forward? Dubai is full of top-tier competition, but if her form continues to improve, she could be a serious threat for the title.
