Transcript: Badosa def. Sakkari 6-3, 6-4 (Second Round)

Paula Badosa def. Maria Sakkari
6-3, 6-4
Round of 32

An Interview With
Paula Badosa

THE MODERATOR: Paula, congratulations on your win. Just your thoughts on your match today.

PAULA BADOSA: I’m really, really happy with my level. I think it’s been a long time that I didn’t see myself competing in this way. So I’m really happy. Especially the way Maria started, she was playing great tennis, but I fought through that. So I’m really pleased with my performance today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Paula, I know you talked so much this week about the adversity that you faced. What does this win in particular do for you, like mentally, maybe give you the belief that you are on the right path with your journey?

PAULA BADOSA: I was just about to say that same word. It gives me belief again, like that I can come back, that I have the level, that I can compete against these players, that they can do amazing points, amazing games, and I can fight through that again.

And I missed that from myself, because I wasn’t finding that this year. So I think it’s one wonderful to find it again, and mentally, I think I’m overcoming a lot of, yeah, obstacles in a way. So, yeah, I’m really proud with this match.

Q. On court you talked a little about your team and how their talking to you and really helps you. I think a lot of people don’t understand what athletes working with their team or how important their team is. Can you talk how you work with your team and the role they play in your comeback?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. I always said that I always wanted a team that it’s like a family in a way. And I have this amazing bonding with them, and they are my family.

So I always understood like this sport, I know it’s an individual one, but I practice. I do gym. I do everything all day with them. And for me it was a little bit like at the beginning of my career I didn’t understand much like why I have to do everything with them and in the moment of the match I don’t have them like to help me in a way, you know.

So I always told them, like, when it’s match time, I also want that support and I want to feel them close to me in a match, because it’s already tough where you are already there outside by yourself.

So they’re very supportive in that way, and they’re always like talking to me, because I want to hear their voice constantly, because if I have only mine and sometimes it’s (inaudible).

So, yeah, I have a very close relationship with them.

Q. Speaking of that voice, you’ve been very open about your emotions, your struggles, and I’m wondering, the more that story gets out there and people hear it, can you feel a swell of support of people who really want to see you do well?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. I do. I do feel it, and I think I never did it because of that, but I think a lot of people feel very connected maybe to the story, and that’s maybe why they’re following me more in a way.

But I did it just in a way that if I could help somebody, and I said it like so many times, because people maybe see me playing and they see the good side of it, but it’s not, you know. And that you can still fail and you can still, after that, overcome it and succeed.

And when you’re in that moment of doubt, we all go through that, and you can still, what I’m saying, you can still come back, and I think I showed it a couple of years ago, and it’s something that I want to show now.

Q. Paula, can I ask you about your clay court tennis in particular? Growing up on the surface like you did and all that experience, what advantages do you feel like it gave you? You’ve always talk about it develops better players, you think better on court and things like that. Do you feel like that’s been your experience?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. I think, well, I always thought that clay is, of course, more physical, but also more tactical. So you have to think a lot, and I think, in my case, automatically just when I get on this surface, it comes very easy for me. Like, okay, I know a little bit the plan that I have to play here, because I practiced so many times on clay, and especially in my country. And they have a way of playing that I think it’s very helpful. Well, you saw so many years Rafa Nadal is a very big inspiration for me in that sense.

But I think we have like the mindset, a very good mindset for clay, honestly.

Q. Do you approach green and red the same?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. Yeah. There’s difference with the surface, but not as much, and I think, yeah, the plan is very similar for me.

Q. Paula, I wanted to ask you about your jewelry line and how that came together, your involvement, and what that extra outlet has been like for you.

PAULA BADOSA: Well, it started like with the first time I got injured, and I had some time to maybe think a bit more besides tennis, and I always like to wear these kind of earrings, and I did this small design with my dad in that moment, and we’re like, why not, you know? We can do something like properly.

So, yeah, we started to do that, and we launched this. And, honestly, I’m really happy because it’s like I found other things besides tennis, you know, in a way. And sometimes you doubt and be like, oh, what am I going to do after this. So doing all these kind of things has helped me personally in a way.

Q. Are you working more towards more pieces? Like what is the goal?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. That’s the goal. I’m working more on that, and hopefully, yeah, people can get it and enjoy it, and it’s part of also expressing myself. So, yeah, we’re working on doing more things.

Q. Paula, you kind of really started having really strong results at the early part of this decade. I’m curious in your opinion as the years have gone on, what are your thoughts on the state of just the level on the women’s tour now compared to earlier 2020s?

PAULA BADOSA: I feel a big difference, and I spoke about it a lot. One of the things I love the most is to watch tennis and to analyze it, and I look at it, and I had a lot of time now. And I see a big difference of the change maybe of 2020 until 2023, let’s say, and now the last years.

I think it was a bit slower, the pace, that we were playing in a way. And now I feel like I have to keep evolving in a way. And as you guys know, most of us work also with the statistics and analytics people, and I asked, I want to know the pace of maybe how I was playing a couple of years ago and now, and there’s differences, not only with me, with all of us. But you can see that they keep pushing you all the time, all the players, especially the youngest ones, you know.
So, yeah, it’s been, for me, much more faster, everything is much more faster. Maybe a bit less tactical, because the people are going more for their shots and less time to think. But, for sure, everyone is like serving big, returning big, hitting big shots, honestly, right now.

Q. Paula, there was some news earlier this week, a couple of days ago, about the WTA Finals might be moving. Riyadh might be the last year this year. You were in Guadalajara.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah.

Q. Just like based on that experience, I think everyone really, really liked being in Guadalajara, but what do you feel like that event — what do you feel like the potential is for that event in its brand new home maybe?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. It has big, big potential. I was very lucky that I played in that year because, honestly, Mexico is great in that sense. People are so passionate. The atmosphere was amazing, one of the best ones I remember.
So, yeah, and I expect the same. It’s the WTA Finals, the best players in the world. So for me it has to be a crazy event, and hopefully they can do that, I don’t know, in the best place possible, if it has to be in Riyadh, Riyadh. If it has to be in U.S., U.S., or if it has to be in Mexico also, I’m happy. For me the goal is to play it. (Laughs). I don’t care where, but to play it.

No, but for me it’s very important that it has a big, big crowd, because it’s what the players deserve.

End of Interview