Badosa recalls Roland Garros past as she reaches Iasi final

Paula Badosa secured her ninth consecutive victory and advanced to her first WTA tour final since 2024 with a hard-fought win over Tamara Zidansek in Iasi, Romania. The Spanish player expressed her happiness at overcoming a match that at times seemed lost, admitting that the memory of a previous challenging encounter with Zidansek at Roland Garros, where she lost in the third set, crossed her mind during a crucial tie-break.

"The truth is that during the tie-break, that Roland Garros match came to mind," Badosa stated. In their 2021 Roland Garros match, Badosa had fought back to equalize but ultimately lost the final set 8-6 to Zidansek. This past experience seemed to fuel her resolve in their recent clash.

Badosa acknowledged Zidansek as a tough opponent who played at a high level. "Zidansek was a very tough opponent, and in the end, she played at a very high level, but I was able to hold on and fight until the end, and I got my reward," she said. This victory ensures Badosa will finish the tournament ranked among the world's top eighty players.

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La verdad es que me ha venido a la cabeza durante el "tie brak" ese partido de Roland Garros.

She identified her increased aggression as the key to her success. "I went for my shots a bit more and was somewhat more aggressive in the important moments, and I think that ultimately made the difference," Badosa explained. She now looks ahead to the final against Egypt's Mayar Sherif.

"It's going to be a very tough match; she likes to play on clay, and it will be a battle. I will try to impose my game, and hopefully, it will go well," Badosa concluded, anticipating another challenging contest.

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Va a ser un partido muy duro; le gusta jugar en tierra y va a ser una batalla y voy a intentar imponer mi juego y ojalá salga bien.