BNP Paribas Open: Paula Badosa, looking to repeat as champion, reaches quarterfinals
Paula Badosa took another step toward repeating as BNP Paribas Open champion on Tuesday evening with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Leylah Fernandez on Stadium Court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Playing last year’s U.S. Open finalist, the 24-year-old Spanish tennis star made it look relatively easy, losing her serve just once and securing four break points.
Badosa now moves into the quarterfinals for the second time in five months at Indian Wells. Of the eight women who reached the quarterfinals here in October, Badosa is the only one who has made it again this year.
“Can we make every week a tournament here?” Badosa joked after her match. “I hope for it.”
Badosa is aiming to become the first woman in 31 years to win back-to-back singles titles at Indian Wells. Martina Navratilova was the last to do it, in 1991.
Badosa has now won nine consecutive matches at Indian Wells. She’s 9-1 in her three appearances in the California desert.
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Her big breakthrough was winning this tournament five months ago. She was ranked 27th in the world when she did so and rose to 10th with her six wins. She has not fallen out of the top 10 since and currently ranks seventh.
“It’s amazing to be back here,” Badosa said. “I knew I had to fight and serve well. I think I did that the entire match, and I’m very, very happy to be back in the quarterfinals again.”
Badosa and Fernandez split the first six games of the first set, then Badosa took control, winning nine of the next 14.
In the seventh game, she went up a break. Then, after Fernandez recorded a break point to even out the set at 4-4, Badosa went up another break before serving out the set.
In the second set, with the score tied, 2-2, Badosa again went up a break, routinely drilling winners with her forehand and powerful backhand.
Badosa fought off two break points with a pair of aces to hold serve in the eighth game, then went up a double break to essentially put the match to bed.
It's not as though Badosa dominated. Most games were very close. Badosa is the one who, in the critical moments, rose to the occasion.
"I really was trying to stay composed no matter what." Badosa said. "I knew it could go either way. We were both playing a very good match. We were both playing aggressive.
"I think the first one that was being aggressive got more chances. I think it was very important the serve, as I said before. Yeah, I think in the key, important moments I played a little bit better."
Though Fernandez had her share of support, with a number of Canadian flags waving through the stadium, the crowd seemed to really roar for Badosa. Several Spanish flags were visible in the crowd and Badosa said she felt the love, which helped her push through the match.
Badosa is now a familiar face at this tournament and is playing like few have in recent years here. She's developing a special relationship with the event, the main stadium and the crowd here.
“This is one of my favorite tournaments,” Badosa said. “Maybe my favorite. I’m sorry to the Madrid tournament, but this one has a special place in my heart.”
Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA Today Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com and find him on Twitter at @Andrew_L_John.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: Paula Badosa defeats Leylah Fernandez at Indian Wells
