On Sunday, Paula Badosa won the 2021 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. In three hours and four minutes, the Spaniard defeated Victoria Azarenka, the 27th seed, 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-6(2).
After leading by a break twice in the first set, Badosa required the tie-break to take the lead in the match.
The two-time champion dominated the second set and went on to tie the match. In the opening moments of the deciding set, the two players traded breaks before Azarenka earned a key break in the ninth game.
She was broken back, though, when attempting to finish the match. With neither player losing ground after that, the set and match were headed for a tie-break.
The deciding set tie-break, on the other hand, was nothing like the first, with Badosa dominating the proceedings to claim her maiden WTA 1000 title.
Azarenka won four more games than Badosa, who had 44, and made eight fewer unforced errors than her Spanish opponent, who had 50.
Badosa, on the other hand, saved ten of the seventeen break points she faced and converted five of the thirteen break points she had on the Belarusian’s serve.
Badosa brings a spectacular end to the match
“I think it was a really tough match. I think it was a really good one as well because she played (at) an amazing level,” Badosa said.
“I think I had to rise [to a] high level every set. At the third set, I think I played my best.
“It was the only option if I wanted to win, so I’m really proud of it. The first thing that I’ve learned this week is that nothing is impossible.
If you fight, if you work, after all these years, you can achieve anything. That’s the first message that I see that could happen”.
“And to dream. Sometimes you have tough moments. In my case, I have been through tough moments,” se further added.
“I never stopped dreaming. That’s what kept me working hard and believing until the last moment. I’m very happy (about) what’s happening.
“I’m a little bit still in shock (about) what happened today because winning a tournament like this, it’s always been a dream”.
A tremendous match ?#BNPPO21 pic.twitter.com/WbRdsUM4AP
— wta (@WTA) October 17, 2021
Badosa defeated three Major champions on her way to the victory, including 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova in the fourth round, three-time Major champion Angelique Kerber in the semifinals, and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the final.
She made history by becoming the first Spanish woman to win the event.
Conchita Martinez has previously lost in the finals twice. Paula Badosa climbed into ninth place in the road to the WTA Finals with her victory in Indian Wells.
She also climbed to No. 13 in the WTA rankings, a new career best. Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka climbed six places to 26th place in the rankings.
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