The rain provides a respite and Badosa begins with a victory in Sao Paulo

Paula Badosa started her participation in the WTA 250 in Sao Paulo with a victory after several days of interruption due to rain. The Spaniard, the second seed of the Brazilian tournament, comfortably defeated the Lithuanian Justina Mikulskyte (6-3, 6-2) and advanced to the round of 16, where she already knows her opponent.

The match was affected by rain, which forced Badosa's debut to be postponed twice. Despite the difficulties in preparing for the match, the Spaniard managed to win her first match in two sets and gained confidence as the match progressed. Mikulskyte, ranked 237th in the world, managed to put her in a bit of trouble during the first set, but Badosa ultimately imposed her higher ranking. The Catalan took advantage of four of the six break opportunities she had and saved three of the four break points she conceded. Although she committed seven double faults, she managed to dominate the rallies thanks to a solid performance with her first serve and closed the match without needing to go to a third set.

Paula Badosa and a special connection with Brazil

After the match, Badosa created one of the day’s memorable images by celebrating her victory with a Brazilian national team jersey. The Spaniard later explained the special bond she has with the country: "I love Brazil, I have a special connection, I have many friends. I have come here many times and I feel at home."

The tournament also represents a new opportunity for Badosa to extend the positive feelings she has shown recently. The Spaniard arrived at the US Open after a challenging season and was able to hold her own against Coco Gauff before falling in the second round. In Sao Paulo, her next opponent will be the Argentine Jazmín Ortenzi, ranked 160th in the WTA rankings, who defeated the French player Chloé Paquet 6-3, 6-2. It will be the first matchup between the two in the professional circuit.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La lluvia da un respiro y Badosa arranca con victoria en Sao Paulo