Badosa had the last word

Showing herself more solid in the two decisive games played against Victoria Azarenka, Paula Badosa won the WTA tournament in Indian Wells after a duel lasting more than three hours during which the two players went through all the emotions.

After Belgrade last May, Paula Badosa has undoubtedly written the best page of her young career in Indian Wells. Opposed for her first WTA 1000 final to Victoria Azarenka, who had the opportunity to become the most successful player on the Californian courts, The Spaniard was able to ignore her emotions to strike a big blow at the end of the season. The start of the first set saw both players struggling on serve. But both Victoria Azarenka and Paula Badosa failed to convert their many break points. But, in the so often precious seventh game, the Spaniard found the flaw … to better concede her service in her turn from the next game. A scenario that was repeated in the eleventh and twelfth games, sending the two players to the tiebreak. After winning the first four points, Paula Badosa must have thought of herself as being safe but Victoria Azarenka was able to make up for her delay… before giving up the round after 1h20 ‘of exchanges. The start of the second set then saw a total change in physiognomy. Managing to move her opponent better, the Belarusian put the 27th world in great difficulty, who conceded twice her serve only to find herself led three games to nothing. Paula Badosa then reacted by erasing a late first break but without succeeding in going further.

Badosa did not crack, Azarenka will have regrets

Then once again taking the service of its opponent, the 32nd world was able to manage to return to a round everywhere in just 33 minutes. A reversal of the situation to which Paula Badosa responded with the break from Victoria Azarenka’s first throw-in in the last round. However, the tournament’s number 27 seed raised his head to come back to two games all over before missing a break point in stride. The Belarusian was able to get this break in the ninth game to serve for the match but the 32nd world faltered. With two points left of the game, Victoria Azarenka conceded the next four points, allowing the Spaniard to come back to five games across. A final that was decided in the decisive game. As in the first heat, Paula Badosa started off with a bang, winning the first three points. But this time, the number 21 seed did not give Victoria Azarenka the opportunity to return. After a real showdown, Paula Badosa won her second career title (7-6, 2-6, 7-6 in 3:04 ‘). A title that puts her in a position to invite herself among the eight qualified for the Masters of Guadalajara. The Belarusian, for her part, may have many regrets.

INDIAN WELLS (United States, WTA 1000, outdoor hard, € 7,024,656)
Holder of the title (in 2019): Bianca Andreescu (CAN)

Finale
Badosa (ESP, n ° 21) bat Azarenka (BIE, n°27) : 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-5 (2)

Semi-finals
Badosa (ESP, n ° 21) bat Jabeur (TUN, n ° 12): 6-3, 6-3
Azarenka (BIE, n°27) bat Ostapenko (LET, n°24) : 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

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