Paula Badosa will be at the WTA Finals, which will be held in Guadalajara (Mexico) from November 10 to 17. The WTA hinted this Sunday that the Catalan was classified regardless of what Ons Jabeur and Anett Kontaveit did this week, which it placed as the only protagonists in the battle to obtain a place in the Women’s Masters. But the confirmation of the classification of Badosa came when the Tunisian announced her withdrawal in the 250 of Courmayeur due to a shoulder injury, which prevented both tennis players, who in any case had a difficult time, from passing Paula in the race.
I am sad to announce that I won’t be able to play in Courmayeur Ladies Open due to my elbow injury. It’s time to recover and to get ready for the next challenges. Thank you for the support ???? pic.twitter.com/UYhQRD7bjT
– Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) October 24, 2021
It will be the first time in 21 years that two Spanish women compete in the Finals, since Garbiñe Muguruza will also be among the eight participants. This Monday will be official. The last edition in which this happened was in 2000, when Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, who lost in the first round, and Conchita Martínez, who did not pass the quarterfinals, played the event called then WTA Tour Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York. . The Navy has not managed to obtain any title in the Masters tournament in its 49 editions. Arantxa was close in 1993 when she lost in four sets (6-1, 6-4, 3-6 and 6-1) against the German Steffi Graf.
After the pass of Badosa, which is these days “recharging” batteries in Madrid, only one place remains unassigned, the ninth (Ashleigh Barty, number one, resigns), which is now in the hands of Jabeur, although Kontaveit, champion in Moscow (Estonia beat Russian Alexandrova 4-6, 6-4 and 7-5 and has won 21 of her last 23 matches), it could be snatched away if he also lifts the trophy in Cluj. Sabalenka, Krejcikova, Pliskova, Sakkari, Swiatek, Muguruza and Badosa are the seven who have a fixed position in the Finals, who return after their absence in 2020 due to the pandemic, which causes their transfer from Shenzhen (China) to Mexico in 2021
Award for a great course
Paula’s success is the culmination of a great year in which the 23-year-old tennis player and number 13 in the world has won two titles (Belgrade and Indian Wells) and climbed 57 places in the ranking. It is the eighth best of the course, also thanks to the fact that it made the semifinals in Lyon, Charleston and Madrid, and fourth at Roland Garros, Tokyo and Cincinnati.