Paolo Badosa was left stunning by the quality of her teenage opponent yesterday, as she narrowly claimed victory at the Thailand Open.
The former world number two shockingly lost the first set against native star Lanlana Tararudee, before coming back to win 6-3, 4-6, 1-6.
It marked yet another triumph for the Spaniard, who continues her comeback season after a 2023 plagued with injuries.
This tournament follows her admirable Australian Open showing, in which she reached the third round.
But what exactly did Badosa have to say about Tararudee? Let’s take a closer look…
What Paolo Badosa said about her opponent
Speaking directly after the win, after the match had dragged on far longer than expected, the victory was extremely magnanimous and complimentary towards the 19-year-old star.
Ranked 298th in the entire world, her efforts to disrupt Badosa worked perfectly as she stormed into a shock first-set lead.
However, the favourite’s quality eventually told, and once she clicked into gear there only really felt like there would be one winner.
When interviewed on court afterwards, Badosa would thenclaim: ‘Her level surprised me. I think she has a great future. Credit to her, she played well. I had to stay there, I had to wait for my moment.’
Paolo Badosa could have a big season
With Diana Schneider her next opponent, there is a real opportunity for the current world number 83 to enjoy a deep run in this competition.
After all, it has now been two years since she tasted silverware on the WTA tour, last winning the Sydney international in 2022.
Peaking just three months later, when she reached her highest-ever career ranking, that is the standard she will have set for herself to recapture should she manage to maintain her fitness throughout the season.
‘The pain is not letting me move forward,’ Badosa once wrote on social media after her US Open exit just last year.
Well, having already entered three tournaments already this month, it does feel like the 26-year-old is moving towards a period of sustained fitness at last. Not to mention the enjoyment is seeping back in as well, with her relationship on and off the court with Stefanos Tsitsipas only set to flourish.
As an aggressive player with impressive mental fortitude, Roland Garros marks a fine opportunity for her to surpass her best-ever Grand Slam finish of the quarter-finals, should she continue to get minutes on the court under her belt.
Given it is her favourite surface, unsurprising for a Spaniard, that will surely offer the springboard to enjoy a truly outstanding comeback season to silence all doubters and cement her place back at the top of tennis.
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