Surging Badosa Reaches Lasi Final

Paula Badosa had to wait five years to get some revenge on Tamara Zidansek, but she finally got it. 

The Spaniard, who lost to Zidansek in the Roland Garros quarterfinals in their only previous meeting (8-6 in the third), rallied past the Slovenian for a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1) victory to reach the final in Lasi. She will face Mayar Sherif for the title. 

“Honestly, I just keep fighting and believing in my game and myself,” Badosa said. 

Badosa has won nine straight matches across all levels and reaches her first WTA level since the Citi Open in 2024. 

Badosa, who won the 125k title in Bastad last week, won despite the fact that Zidansek served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, and again at 6-5 in the decider. 

Badosa broke both times and dominated the third-set tiebreak to reach the title round. 

Sherif defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-3, 6-1 in Saturday’s first semifinal. She will bid for her second WTA title, while Badosa will bid for her fifth.

Badosa converted eight of 24 break points in the match and surrendered eight breaks as well in a wild battle that lasted two hours and 41 minutes.