By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Sunday, August 4, 2024
Paula Badosa won her fourth career title and first in over two years at Washington DC in three sets over Marie Bouzkova.
Photo Credit: Mubadala Citi DC Open
For Paula Badosa, her comeback to the top of the game made an important stop this week in Washington, DC - in the winner’s circle.
The former World No. 2 Badosa, who endured back issues that almost took her out of the game, earned a satisfying victory to win the Mubadala Citi DC Open WTA 500 event.
Badosa served out Marie Bouzkova of Czechia 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 for her fourth career title.
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It was an emotional celebration for Badosa who said later the title is perhaps the most special in her career so far, given her long injury layoff that had her wondering if she would compete again.
“I think it's maybe the most special moment, especially because I went through a lot, you know? As I said I think it was yesterday, a lot of people put me down on that. I had to fight through that and I had to keep believing on myself. Especially I think who did a good job with that was my team, who was always there supporting me and believing in me. I think this moment for me, it's one of the most special ones in my career. Of course, Indian Wells will always be there, but it's a different situation. I think here I fought a lot myself and my thoughts. I think that's one of the biggest wins of, yeah, my career.”
For Badosa, it was her first final of the season and first in over two years since winning Sydney back in 2022.
For Bouzkova, it was her second final of 2024 having been runner-up in Bogota earlier this year. Each were playing at the event for the first time. Bouzkova reached the final by knocking out top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Multiple weather delays played pivotal roles as the momentum shifted for each player during the match.
After a shaky start, that saw each player drop serve in the opening games, the first set then was all-one way traffic for Badosa.
The former World No. 2 found her range with her powerful groundstrokes and unleashed a potent return to break her opponent again for 3-1. Bouzkova tried to match Badosa’s power from the baseline without much luck. Meanwhile, Badosa had no trouble breaking Bouzkova again to later open up a 5-1 lead.
Badosa then served out the set with authority at 6-1.
The Spaniard won 73% of her first serve points in the set compared to just 30% for Bouzkova.
At 1-all in the second set, play was suspended due to potential lightning in the area. After play resumed an hour, Bouzkova seemed to benefit from the break by finding more opportunities in points, especially when coming to net to finishing things off.
Badosa herself enjoyed a winning moment at net midway through the set that delighted her many fans the crowd.
But it was clear the second set was much closer than Badosa would have liked. Later serving at 3-4, Badosa sent a backhand long and tossed in a double fault to find herself staring at 15-40. She went on to save both break points, first with a pinpoint forehand winner followed by a stellar backhand winner to get to deuce.
Badosa fought off another break point later with a calmly hit forehand winner. She eventually claimed the game with a strong serve for 4-all. Yet Bouzkova answered the challenge by holding serving at love for 5-4 and then pressured Badosa in the next game. Badosa, now serving, saved one set point 30-40 with a big serve.
But the Czech earned a second set point soon enough. Badosa struck a forehand that sent the ball clipping the net and well out handing Bouzkova the set for 6-4.
The third set featured yet another pivotal weather delay, this time rain that halted play for 30 minutes in the opening game.
When play resumed. Badosa broke Bouzkova to start at 1-0. Bouzkova broke right back with help from a lucky net cord that dropped over the net for 1-all. Badosa decided to hit out more and go for winners early as she did in the first set. That strategy worked as then later broke to go ahead 3-2.
With calm composure, she fired down an ace and then a crosscourt forehand winner to consolidate her lead to 4-2.
Badosa, later, calmly served herself to 5-3 and then let out a yell knowing she was a game away from the title. Bouzkova put the pressure back on her opponent by serving herself to 5-4.
With the title on her racquet, Badosa served her way to match point. She then found one more big serve to close out the three set win for the title.
Badosa fell to the ground in celebration and then later kissed the court to loud applause from the crowd.
The title run capped off a strong week for Badosa, who before the event started, wasn’t sure if the hard courts of DC would suit her aggressive game. She said she’s learned a lot about herself this week in every match.
“I think what I learned for me is that I'm stronger than what I thought. Yeah, if I believe and I go for it, well, good things come like a title. Yeah, sometimes I've been doubting on myself. I think I shouldn't do that. I just need to keep believing. I hope it's not the last one,” Badosa said.
Though she appeared calm on court for most of the match, Badosa revealed that she was definitely battling her own emotions as well her opponent. That’s mostly due to her wanting to win the title very badly.
In fact, during the rain delay in the third set, she relied on her team off court to help her navigate how she was feeling.
“Look, I'm super honest. I think I should be always like that," Badosa said. "So I came out of the court crying so much. Really, I couldn't stop crying. My team didn't know what to do because I just cried non-stop. I tried to calm down. I think that also helped me a bit to release my emotions because I was really, really nervous.
"That's what I said, like sometimes I want it so much that I can't control myself. That's a little bit what happened in the third set. Then after crying like, I don't know how much time, I relaxed a bit, I calmed down. I changed. I'm like, Paula, it's a set, just give everything you can, try to play your game like at the beginning of the match that I think I started really well on that and I was quite calm.”
Despite the loss, Bouzkova took many positives away from her time in DC and the final when asked what she is most proud of this week.
“Well, I think overall just with my fighting spirit and just trying to stay mentally tough," Bouzkova said. "I think there were a lot of challenging moments throughout this week, starting in the first round. Today, obviously after losing the first set, I'm happy that I kept fighting and trying to find the way.
"Eventually I did get into my rhythm and started to feel a lot better.I think it was a great final in the end. I think I'm most pleased with that, just being able to adapt every single match to different opponent, then just staying mentally tough.”
Badosa will now rise to World No. 40 in the rankings and become Spain’s top women’s player next week.
When asked if she’s all the way back, Badosa feels that at least for now, she’s definitely likes where she is now, especially given that had endured close losses to many players earlier in the season.
“Yeah, I mean, I felt before already that I was in a pretty high level because, as I said, I'm playing against the best players and I'm really close," Badosa said. "I was really close to it. But yeah, I think I'm on my way. I don't want to say I'm back back because I don't know. I want to test myself a little bit more. But I think I'm on my way. The most important that I'm motivated, that my body is responding. Yeah, we can say I'm back (smiling).”