Retired Spanish WTA player Carla Suarez Navarro is sending words of encouragement to Paula Badosa. After an early exit at the Mutua Madrid Open, Badosa is set to lose her recently-acquired No.2 ranking, but Suarez Navarro is confident that her countrywoman has what it takes to claim the No.1 position in the rankings.
The 24-year-old Badosa climbed to a career-high of No.2 on April 25, but already at the next rankings update she’ll lose that spot. Playing her home tournament as the first Spanish woman to hold the top-seed position in Madrid, Badosa was dominated by Simona Halep in the second round.
“Yeah, it’s not the best moment right now. Quite bad,” Badosa told the media after winning just four games against two-time Madrid champion Halep. “I don’t know. It’s tough to lose at home. It’s been a tough week, as well. Very stressful, a lot of things. Tough draw, as well. But it goes how it goes, and I have to accept it.”
In this difficult moment for Badosa, former world No.6 Suarez Navarro steps in with positive thinking:
“Last year, Paula Badosa took a giant step and, in addition, this year, she is consolidating it. Patiently and unhurriedly, I see Paula as number one. It’s close. She only has Iga Swiatek ahead of her. She’s doing things very well.”
Badosa currently has 5,045 points, 2,136 less than top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland. In the live WTA rankings, Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova has surpassed Badosa and regained No.2. (source: Tennis Now, photos: Jimmie48)
