Paula Badosa gets emotional as she makes stunning rankings breakthrough at the US Open
Paula Badosa’s remarkable revival at the US Open continues and now she is set to be handed a huge rankings reward after her sparking revival in fortunes over the last few weeks.
Badosa played in her first Grand Slam quarter-final back in 2021 at the French Open and three years later, she is back in the last eight of a major after a 6-1, 6-2 win against Wang Yafan.
Injuries have disrupted Badosa’s story over the last couple of years, but she has exploded back into form in New York and is relishing the joy of her success.
“I don’t want to cry because last year I was here and had to withdraw,” reflected Badosa.
“I couldn’t play the tournament. For me it was really sad. Being back here a year later with my best result in a Slam is a dream come true. I never thought about it.
“A few months ago I was thinking to quit this sport. Because I stopped believing in myself and my injury wasn’t responding. So being back in one of the best places in the world is a dream come true.
“The low point for me was at the middle of the season. It was really bad.
“There were moments, especially after Madrid, that I didn’t know what to do. In my mind I was thinking, maybe I should quit because if I’m not in the highest level, I don’t want to play this sport.
“I don’t want to be in the ranking I was in that moment. For me it doesn’t make sense.”
On her match against Yafan, Badosa added: “I think the match started and it was a battle. I remember seeing the minutes. It was only two games and it was 17 minutes and it was so humid.
“I was like ‘I think I’m gonna die here today.’ But I knew it was going to be worth it. In that moment I remember thinking ‘she’s tough but I’m tougher. If I have to stay here three hours I will.”
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The smile on Badosa’s face after this latest win said everything about her mood and the reward for her success on US hard courts over the last few weeks can now be seen in the WTA Rankings.
Badosa was ranked outside the top 100 of the WTA Rankings at the start of the 2024 and only made a leap back into the top 100 at the start of July.
That was before a tournament win in Washington was backed up by a run to the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati last month.
Now she is back in the last eight club at a Grand Slam and the live WTA Rankings are tracking Badosa to get back into the elite top 20 list in the women’s game once again when they are updated after the US Open.
Badosa has also made a big stride forward in the WTA Race for 2024, as she is up to No 14 in that list, highlighting her impressive form over the course of this year.
The Spanish star will mow believe anything is possible at this US Open given the comprehensive nature of her win against Wang, with victory in the final next weekend enough to fire Badosa back into the top ten of the WTA Rankings.
