After shining in her debut at the WTA 1,000 in Rome, the Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa brought out her best version this Thursday to resurface against the American Emma Navarro and overcome a match that was difficult for her but which she ended up dominating with ease (1- 6, 6-4 and 6-2).
There were two Badosas at the Foro Italico this Thursday. The first was at the mercy of the world number 22, who made her debut on the Italian clay court with an impeccable set against the Spaniard, who could do little to stop the attacks of the American, who broke three times.
Then another Badosa emerged, confident, overflowing with quality, accurate and physically adept, who ate up the court to frustrate Navarro, who looked like a winner after her great first set and broke another service in the first game, with which she went 2 -0 up.
But Badosa improved significantly and little by little he tamed his rival to gain his own confidence. He returned the break, withstood 3 break balls on his next serve and broke again to come back in the set (3-2). There he forged his game, there he gave free rein to his best level.
Because in the even battle that broke out, Badosa was always one step ahead. He had two set points before the third and final one that was enough to extend the match.
A duel that in the third set had no mystery. Because if in the first set only Navarro seemed to play, in the third only Badosa played, who with a physical and technical display overwhelmed the American, whom she defeated on the first match point she had, after breaking her serve twice. .
Badosa, like last year on this same stage, showed signs of his good tennis. For now, she is in the third round, in which she will face the Russian Diana Schnaider, world number 62.
