In an encounter of two players who both started last season ranked outside Top 50, Spain’s Paula Badosa defeated reigning Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 4-6 7-6(4) in the final of the Sydney Tennis Classic.
Badosa had never before been beyond the second round on Australian soil, while now she’s recorded five victories in Sydney, four of which over players from the Top 30: 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko, Ajla Tomljanovic, Belinda Bencic, Daria Kasatkina, and Barbora Krejcikova.
The world No.4 Krejcikova moved into the final after saving seven match points to beat seventh-ranked Anett Kontaveit in two hours and 30 minutes. Badosa is now 3-0 against Krejcikova, having also beaten the Czech en route to the Indian Wells title last year.
The 24-year-old Badosa boasts a perfect 3-0 win-loss record in WTA finals, having also won the Serbia Open and the BNP Paribas Open last season.
Badosa is currently ranked No.9, but on Monday she’ll occupy No.6 position in the WTA rankings. Last season she began ranked No.70 and broke into the Top 10 in the first half of November.
Nike tennis apparel: Badosa’s winning outfit in Sydney consisted of the Winter Victory Tank and Advantage Skirt. The blue ensemble combines a classic racerback top that includes a mini keyhole cutout and a flirty skirt with two layers of pleats. The WTA star’s shoe of choice is the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro.
On Monday, Badosa will begin her Australian Open campaign against Ajla Tomljanovic, the player she defeated in straight sets this week in Sydney.
