Badosa beats Jabeur and makes sure to leave as number 2 of Stuttgart

Paula Badosa is already one step closer to the top of world tennis. The Spanish tennis player, second favorite for the title in the Stuttgart tournament, is already in the semifinals of the tournament after winning a combative Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals by 7-6 (9), 1-6 and 6-3 after 2 hours and 11 minutes. A victory that, no matter what happens in the rest of the tournament, will guarantees the Spaniard to appear as number 2 in the world in the WTA ranking next Monday, the highest ranking to date for a Badosa that continues to make history in this 2022.

The first set started very well for the Spanish tennis player, who broke Jabeur’s serve on her first serve, although the Tunisian recovered with the counterbreak in the next game. The service breaks were a constant in this first round, since Jabeur broke Badosa’s serve twice more while the Spanish had a harder time snatching the Tunisian’s serve. Jabeur had two chances to close the set on serve at 5-4 and 6-5 in favor. However, a brave Badosa managed to break the Tunisian’s serve to force an agonizing tie-break in which the Spanish won 11-9 after saving two set points against.

However, doubts appeared in Badosa in a second sleeve where he was unrecognizable before a Ons Jabeur who was very solid on serve and who went on to lead 5-0 after breaking Badosa’s serve twice. The Spanish tried to react by winning her serve and saving the first three set balls that she faced, but on the fourth Jabeur did not forgive to close the lead 6-1 and force the third and final set.

The third round began very evenly and with a Badosa who, despite having to ask for the physio’s presence on several occasions, managed to defend her serve tooth and nail and achieved a valuable break in the sixth game to get 2-4 to favor, although Jabeur rallied with a quick counterbreak. However, Badosa unhinged an Ons Jabeur with forehands who slammed her racket against the ground, visibly frustrated after losing her serve, while the Spanish managed to close the set and the match for the first time she had to secure the world number 2 and a semifinal in which the winner of the match between the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and the Estonian Anett Kontaveit awaits.