Badosa stages epic comeback to reach final and re-enter top 100

Paula Badosa staged a remarkable comeback in the Iasi tournament semifinals, fighting back from the brink of defeat to secure a spot in the final. The Spanish player triumphed over Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek with a hard-fought 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1) victory that lasted nearly three hours.

Badosa found herself on the verge of elimination, trailing by two points from losing the match. This epic turnaround marks her ninth consecutive win and propels her back into the WTA top 100 rankings, a significant achievement after facing challenges earlier in her career. She had previously lost to Zidansek in their only prior encounter at Roland Garros in 2021.

This semifinal victory is Badosa's first on the WTA circuit since the Australian Open semifinals in 2025. It also marks her fifth WTA final appearance and her first since winning the Washington title in 2024. Regardless of the final's outcome, Badosa, who entered the tournament ranked 115th, will re-enter the top 77 in the women's rankings, a position that seemed unlikely just weeks ago. Her strong performance also guarantees her a spot in the main draw of the US Open.

In the final, Badosa will face Egypt's Mayar Sherif, currently ranked 97th. Sherif, 30, reached the final after defeating Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-3, 6-1. This will be Sherif's third WTA final, having lost previous finals in Rabat in 2024 and Cluj in 2021. She is yet to secure a WTA title.