The Mexican city of Guadalajara hosted a historic match between two tennis players who, curiously, had never faced each other on the professional circuit. The focus, above all, was on Badosa, a tennis player who has made an exceptional final stretch of the season, to the point of winning a ticket to the WTA Finals. And, in this intense week, to prove that nothing had happened by chance, reaching the semifinals by winning the first two games without conceding a set. But that was not enough in front of a Garbiñe who did well.
Born in Venezuela but based in Barcelona, Garbiñe looked at her team just after the final point and put her index finger on her forehead. For an hour and 25 minutes, the player had become a perfect machine to play tennis. He dominated almost all statistics, to the point of taking Badosa by the thumb. He started the game at full speed and had three games to break the service. From here, I would always go ahead and Badosa, in tow.
An unequal match
The tennis player from Begur, helpless, sought advice in the box office where his family was, but without finding an answer. Only in the final stretch, when he opted for a more aggressive game, was he able to stand up. But it was too late. Because the scoreboard was clearly against and because, every time I got one winner, saw Garbiñe respond with some genius in the next point. Badosa had more winning shots (20 to 17), but also many more unforced errors (30 to 21). It could not be made strong serving, unlike Garbiñe, who would win 81% of the points played in the first service. Badosa would end up dying of crushing, having yielded two services to the first set and one break in the second. Instead, he wasted the three balls he had. Garbiñe did not seem invincible. He was invincible.
Luck also smiled on the Barcelona woman, who had enjoyed a day off. Badosa had qualified for the second match on Friday, and Garbiñe had had to row until Saturday, when he played his third duel. But on Sunday Badosa played his third game, already insignificant and losing. Certainly, Begur played at half speed, but still accumulated a wear and tear that took its toll on the semifinals. Between that, the lack of experience and that in front had a rival to whom everything left to him, ended up fitting the defeat with sportiness but resignation. The gesture of rage, grabbing her bag and walking into the locker room with the face of a few friends, summed it up perfectly. He had fallen with honor, but deep down he had lost.
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