Badosa overcomes it all and makes history in Indian Wells

Paula Badosa made history this Sunday in Indian Wells. In the second final of his short career, the most important so farAfter successfully solving five games before and losing only one set against very complicated opponents, the Catalan was able to beat the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, former world number one, winner of two majors and twice champion of the prestigious California desert tournament: 7-6 (5), 2-6 and 7-6 (2) in 3h: 03.

She is the first Spanish woman to be successful in the so-called fifth Grand Slam, due to her 128 draw and because practically all the best players on the circuit play. Conchita Martínez remained at the gates in 1992 and 1996, with two runners-up against major rivals, ranking leaders, Monica Seles and Steffi Graf. This achievement, winning a WTA 1,000 or equivalent, only Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Conchita herself, María José Martínez and Garbiñe Muguruza had reached him in the women’s army.

Paula debuted in this posh event and eliminated the new top-10 Ons Jabeur in the semifinals. Before, he had downed two other tennis players who know what it is to win big titles, Angelique Kerber (another former leader of the ranking) and Barbora Krejcikova. In the first two rounds, she was able to beat two strong youngsters like her, Dayana Yastremska and Coco Gauff. Much merit, which gives an idea of ​​the importance of the feat of the player born 23 years ago in New York.

It was not easy for her to handle her nerves before such an occasion, so it was difficult for her to start and she was seen with a lack of freshness in her legs, slow in the movements, at the beginning of the game with very long games and many break opportunities for the two applicants. Badosa held up well to the onslaught of an aggressive Azarenka, armed with her crossed backhand and her good rises to the net. The first break was for Paula, who closed it with a great rest against a first serve. With 4-3 and service, he could not consolidate his advantage and returned to the fierce fight for scoring the first set and, with it, half a trophy.

Although he hit again with another break, with faith and patience, Badosa again missed the opportunity to make it good and get ahead. She did get it in the tiebreaker, after an hour and 20 minutes of dueling, without practicing her best game, serious and tense, very tense. With a lot of room for improvement.

Huge ending

The second set started with a double break from Azarenka, a born fighter who did not collapse after the first one slipped away at the last gasp and placed a resounding 3-0. Paula shortened aggressively, but again she broke the Belarusian and did not look back until the match was equal. The third set was a drama. Touched, with those discomfort that she drags on her shoulder and a growing physical loss, Badosa was able to beat everything in the best minutes of a spectacular game, possibly the best of the year. He recovered from a break and after being two points away from losing, he pulled caste and won. Path of greatness.

Results, table and calendar.