Former world number 1 Simona Halep, world number 8 Paula Badosa, and US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez are all ready to play doubles at the Australian Open. Halep, a two-time Grand Slam winner, will play alongside her Romanian compatriot Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Badosa, the semi-finalist of the 2021 WTA Finals, is expected to play with Elena Rybakina at Melbourne Park. In the meantime, Fernandez will play with Erin Routliffe.
Exclusive @AustralianOpen Doubles Final List!
Some surprises: @Simona Halep / @Gabriela_Ruse, @paulabadosa / Rybakina, @SofiaKenin / Putintseva, @KikiMladenovic / @CaroGarcia, @leylahfernandez / Routliffe, @MirzaSania / N Kichenok, @andreapetkovic / Cristian etc #AusOpen #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/E5u60Dcll6 – Daniel Radu (@danielradutenis) December 23, 2021
Only a few days ago Badosa had expressed her wish to play against Halep and the two could now possibly meet in doubles at the Australian Open.
“I would like to play against Halep, I admired her very much, I like her very complete style of play. I don’t think we look very similar when we play, but I am very drawn to her style, which is way beyond defensive or aggressive goes out.
She has both so I would love to face her to see how she does it, “Badosa told Punto de Break.
Paula Badosa wants to leave her mark on tennis
“I want to be a little more, leave my mark on tennis for different things.
I think I can really help young people just starting out by explaining how I feel or what I’ve been through at certain times, “said Badosa. Badosa enjoyed a strong end to the season after winning the Indian Wells Masters and finished the WTA Finals as a semi-finalist.
Badosa is now one of the best players in the world and she knows she has a goal on her back. “Yes of course. And it’s not that they study you anymore. You’re in the spotlight. Now everyone wants to defeat you.
Tennis players play against you with less pressure and you play with a commitment to win. It’s tricky, but there is always something in the tennis world. When you are 70 in the world you fight to be at the top and when you are at the top you fight to stay.
You face a constant challenge. But that’s the beauty of the sport, “Badosa told Eurosport Spain.
