Paula Badosa has reached the Indian Wells semi-finals, which, regardless of her result in that phase against Ons Jabeur, already represents a great step, one more, in its productive 2022 season. The Californian tournament is a big place in tennis, a WTA 1000 symbolically considered the fifth Grand Slam. The last Spanish player who had set foot there was Conchita Martínez, in 2003. Badosa started this course in the 72nd position in the world rankings and now flirts with the top-20, something that only seven compatriots have achieved before her. Everything is progress. Paula calls out for a clue, thanks to a continually upward trajectory.
This season he has already appeared five times in the semifinals: in Lyon, in Charleston, in Madrid, another WTA 1,000; in Belgrade, where he raised his first professional title, and in the present Indian Wells. He has also reached the quarters of a great: Roland Garros. The sum of all this has placed it, even, with options to enter the WTA Finals, which will play the eight best rackets of the year in contention.
Whatever happens, Badosa has grown. And a lot. His career confirms the quality he projected in the junior category, when she was crowned at Roland Garros in 2015. The leap from being a promise of the sport to a world-class player, which is where she is now, is always a difficult challenge, one that many players fail to overcome. Paula was also on the verge of staying on the road due to anxiety and depression problems, But when he took off the backpack of responsibility and fear of losing, he began to gain more than ever.
This year he has already done it against four top-10: Barty (1st), Sabalenka (3rd), Krejcikova (5th), this week; and Swiatek (8th). In the quarters he beat Kerber, former number one. Badosa asks for step in the elite. He already rubs shoulders with the big boys. And anything can happen.
