Paula Badosa recently showered rich praise on Carlos Alcaraz following the latter's triumph over archrival Jannik Sinner in the final of the 2024 China Open. The Spaniard overcame a 0-3 deficit in the deciding set tiebreaker to come through 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3).
Badosa, on her part, is competing at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing and has reached the quarterfinals without dropping a single set in her last four wins. Speaking to the media following her quarterfinal victory against local favorite Zhang Shuai on Thursday (October 3), the World No. 19 gave her views on fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz's personality and how he inspires her.
Paula Badosa also disclosed that she watched the entirety of his title victory in Beijing, as well, before claiming that she was one of his most ardent fans.
"I'm inspired by Carlos. He's great, on and off the court. He's an amazing person, he's an amazing player," Badosa said during her on-court interview. "I was watching the whole match yesterday, I was cheering for him. He makes all the country proud and, honestly, I'm a big fan of him."
Badosa will next face fourth-seeded Coco Gauff for a place in the China Open final on Saturday (October 5). The 26-year-old has enjoyed a good season on the WTA Tour this year, having won 34 of her 50 matches. She also triumphed at the 2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open in August, which marked her first title since her career-threatening back injury in 2023.
Paula Badosa on her last-eight win in Beijing: "A battle that could've gone either way"
Paula Badosa was quick to get off the blocks during her last-eight encounter at the China Open against the in-form Zhang Shuai, breaking serve three times to take the first set 6-1. The fifteenth seed then received stiff resistance from her lower-ranked opponent, who took her to a tiebreaker in the following set.
Badosa, however, maintained her composure to complete a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory in one hour and 25 minutes. The Spaniard told WTA afterward that the match could've gone the distance as she commended Shuai's valiant effort in the second set.
"I started really strong with my ideas very clear and playing very aggressive. Everything was going my way," Paula Badosa said. "Second set, I think she raised her level. She was playing more aggressive and going more to net. At the end it was a battle that could have gone either way."
The World No. 19 will be eager to win her first 1000-level title since the 2021 BNP Paribas Open later this week.