Paula Badosa: "I wanted to show that people were wrong"

There was a moment during the final of the WTA 500 in Washington when Paula Badosa had to face a negative thought. Fortunately, it didn't last long. “It's your moment, Paula, you can do this. Believe in yourself and it will happen,” she whispered to herself as she started the third set against Marie Bouzkova. She had fought long and hard to reach this privileged situation, so now that she was so close, she was not going to throw it all away. At the very least, she was going to fight for it until the end. In a later conversation with WTA, already holding the title in her arms, the Spanish player shared interesting insights about her experience on the court.

“It's been a while, a long time for sure,” Paula recalls about her last triumph. “Right now, I'd say it's the most special title of my career. Being able to play again at this level and also winning a title like this means a lot to me. After everything I've been through, I didn't know if I could continue my career or not, I was battling with all the pain in my body, I just wanted to prove people wrong. That made me push myself to the limit, especially in this final, where I really wanted the title. I'm happy to have managed my emotions and finally achieve victory,” celebrates the woman who now reappears back in the top 40.

Regarding the match, we can say that it also had those conditions that add drama to any recipe. The scoreboard equality, going to a third set, the rain delays that always disconnect you and give you time to think when you don't need it, especially if you're someone who overthinks things. Badosa had to escape from all of this, carrying the responsibility of being the favorite and having the opportunity to close a fantastic week that would bring her back to the headlines and confirm that her 'comeback' was already a reality.

CONQUERING HERSELF

“My worst enemy is patience, so it was very difficult for me. The first rain delay was my worst enemy, but I admit that the second interruption was my friend. I had many emotions, I started to cry when I left the court before the third set because I was very nervous, but that helped me to release and calm down,” comments the pupil of Pol Toledo, who now has four individual titles in four finals played.

That is how that crown in Washington was forged, a journey that is much better understood by listening to Paula's own words after that turning point where she chose to be brave and go all in. “Then I came back stronger, that's the truth. All the ups and downs and issues I went through I think are helping me now, today I value every situation, every moment, most of all I value this title more than ever. When you go through tough times, you appreciate the good moments even more,” she concludes hours before debuting in Canada.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Paula Badosa: “Quería demostrar que la gente estaba equivocada”