By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 9, 2021
Spain's Paula Badosa notched her biggest career win on Friday, toppling World No.1 Ash Barty at the Volvo Car Open.
Photo Source: Chris Smith/ Volvo Car Open
Paula Badosa had never defeated a Top 20 player before this week’s Volvo Car Open. Now the Spaniard is looking like a Top 20 wrecking ball. A few days after knocking off World No.12 Belinda Bencic in the second round, Badosa stunned reigning World No.1 Ashleigh Barty, 6-4, 6-3 on Friday.
“I’m still a little bit shocked, I can’t believe what just happened,” Badosa told Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman after the match.
Though Badosa didn’t own many signature wins before this week, it’s been no secret that she’s a talent on the clay. She did reach the second week at Roland-Garros last season and owns a 15-9 lifetime record on the surface. She said she felt confident about facing Barty on her favorite surface on Friday, despite the 71 spots that surround them in the rankings.
"I know I am playing the world No 1 and she's an amazing player, but I'm on clay courts, I know how to play on clay courts, I like how to play on clay courts, so I knew I had to focus on myself and of course if she is better than me today [not getting the win] could be a possibility, so I just had to accept it. But at least I try to do my game, my serve, my forehand, my backhand, to focus on me and that's what I did."
Barty, who successfully defended her Miami Open title last weekend, saw her eight match winning streak snapped. She came away impressed with the game of Badosa.
“I thought she served exceptionally well,” said Barty. “Made a lot of big first serves on big points, and she was able to keep good depth in the court and I think that’s an important part of clay court tennis, allowing yourself to push your opponent off the baseline, I thought she did that really well tonight.”
The semifinals are set in Charleston, after Veronika Kudermetova defeated Sloane Stephens, 6-3 6-4 in Friday’s final singles match.
Badosa will face Kudermetova while Danka Kovinic, who topped Yulia Putintseva, 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1, will face Ons Jabeur. Jabeur knocked off Coco Gauff, 6-3 6-3.