MADRID, 15 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa brilliantly qualified for the semifinals of the Indian Wells tournament (United States), a category 1,000 of the WTA and which is played on hard court, after eliminating the German Angelique Kerber this Thursday in the quarterfinals by 6 -4, 7-5.
The Catalan player continues with her firm path in the event and after leaving out in the round of 16 the Roland Garros champion, the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, third favorite and number five in the world, did not offer too many loopholes in an even duel against the Former world number one, triple ‘Grand Slam’ winner, 10th favorite and finalist in 2019.
Indian Wells had not seen a Spanish semifinalist since Conchita Martínez achieved it in 2003 and now Badosa will try to emulate her with the move to the final since the Huesca is the only national player who has played two finals in this tournament, both lost, in 1992 and 1996. Her rival will be another tennis player on the rise like the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, twelfth seed that left Estonian Anett Kontaveit on the road 7-5, 6-3.
The Catalan, semifinalist this year already at the Mutua Madrid Open and playing for the first time in the Californian desert, knew how to control well the greater experience of a Kerber, excessively erratic (29 unforced errors) and to which she did not forgive her lazy day with the first service.
Despite this, the match was even in its first set. The number 27 in the world began with a ‘break’, but the German replied immediately and from there the serves were imposed until 4-4. There, the triple champion of ‘Grand Slam’ wasted a break ball and with 5-4 against and 30-30 committed a double fault and an unforced error that handed over the sleeve to her rival.
This was filled with confidence for the second, where she was calmer in her tennis. After wasting an initial break, Badosa broke again and took a favorable 5-2. The Spanish number two pressed from the rest, but could not take advantage of two match balls with 15-40 and then it was Kerber who reacted to break when he served to end the duel.
The German player equalized the match again, but the Catalan showed mental strength to secure the tie-break and be able to put pressure again from the rest. His opponent could not hold and Badosa broke his serve for the fifth time to stay in the running for what would be the great title of his career.