Badosa lets a unique opportunity slip away against Gauff

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 5 Oct 2024 | 11.30

Paula Badosa beats Gauff in Shanghai. Photo: Getty Images

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Paula Badosa has not been able to defeat Cori Gauff in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 Beijing 2024, succumbing 4-6 6-4 6-2 to the young American, who made a great display of survival. With an epic comeback in the second set, Cori executed a Badosa who was very close to victory.

There was great anticipation to witness a new episode of an intimate rivalry between two warriors hungry for glory. Cori Gauff and Paula Badosa offered a great show in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 Beijing 2024, in a match that lasted over two and a half hours, full of excitement, good tennis, and drama. Small details tilted the balance, showing that both players arrive confidently in this final stretch of the year.

In the initial stages of the first set, the immense confidence of Badosa could be noted, along with her clarity of ideas and level of accuracy in her shots, accompanied by an unbreakable winning mentality. The Spanish player gained an advantage after several long games where both had their chances, but she was able to assert her authority, reduce errors, and mercilessly punish Cori's forehand as she tried to defend effectively but lost ground against Paula's attacks.

- Badosa even managed to lead with a break in the second set

Nothing seemed to change in a second set where the Catalan continued to dominate. She hit crosscourt shots that pushed her opponent off the court, found ways to inflict damage without taking excessive risks, and forced Gauff into a counterattacking role that wore her out. Badosa got the break she wanted and even had a 4-2 lead with the chance to secure a double break. That was the turning point. She let a seemingly dying Cori escape and encountered a complete physical and moral collapse.

The young American courageously and skillfully staged a comeback in the third set, stringing together four consecutive games and quickly gaining a substantial lead in the third set. Paula Badosa had lost faith in her chances, her legs felt heavy, and she played more impulsively than with a well-crafted game plan. The moral blow of being within reach of victory only to see it slip away was too hard for the Spanish player to accept. Great competitive skill from Cori Gauff, who enters the final of the WTA 1000 Beijing 2024 in great style.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Badosa deja escapar una oportunidad única ante Gauff