Synopsis
Paula Badosa, the former World No.2, has reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating Coco Gauff in a thrilling quarterfinal match in Melbourne. This victory comes after overcoming a significant back injury and marks a significant milestone in Badosa's career.Key Takeaways
- Paula Badosa achieved her first Grand Slam semifinal.
- She defeated Coco Gauff with a score of 7-5, 6-4.
- Badosa was named Comeback Player of the Year in 2024.
- This match lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes.
- She awaits the winner between Aryna Sabalenka and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Melbourne, Jan 21 (NationPress) Former World No.2 Paula Badosa achieved her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal appearance by defeating World No. 3 Coco Gauff with a score of 7-5, 6-4 during the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
At 27 years old, Badosa, who was recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year in 2024 after overcoming a career-threatening back injury last year, had previously faced elimination in her two major quarterfinal attempts. This victory marked Gauff's first loss in 2025, concluding in 1 hour and 43 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.
"I entered today with the intention of showcasing my best performance, and I believe I accomplished that. Coco started with some incredible tennis, but I am extremely proud of my level today," Badosa expressed after the match.
"Just a year ago, I was here dealing with my back injury, uncertain about my future in this sport, and now I find myself competing against the best in the world. Today, I won and I’m in the semifinals, something I never imagined I would achieve just a year later," she reflected.
Badosa secured the first set at 7-5 after a challenging hold, demonstrating remarkable strategy. Despite facing challenges at 30-30, she kept her cool and utilized a balanced mix of power and precision to gain the upper hand. Gauff fought back tenaciously, generating errors and maintaining pressure, yet ultimately could not break through.
A lengthy 18-minute game on Gauff's serve at the beginning of the second set propelled the Spaniard forward, and she won three consecutive games after reaching a 2-2 tie as Gauff continued to struggle.
Although Badosa faltered while attempting to serve for the match at 5-2, she decisively clinched her place in the semifinals with two aces, an unreturned serve, and a powerful forehand winner in the concluding game.
This victory also marked Badosa's first Top 10 win at a Grand Slam event.
The Spaniard is now set to face the victor of the quarterfinal clash between World No.1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, and No.21 seed and 2021 Roland Garros finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
