It’s hard to get to the top, but much harder to stay there over time. The high competition is very demanding and you need a perfect cocktail: a clear head, the necessary technique and that the body holds up, free of setbacks. The women’s tennis circuit does not understand too much favoritism. It is true that Iga Swiatek presents strong arguments to corroborate that she plays in another league, but then the dance of positions in the WTA ranking is the daily bread. Aliona Bolsova also dances there. He has just turned 25 and enough time has passed for the Empordanese, of Moldovan origin, to have enough knowledge to know that one day you look up and the next, you have to regret finding yourself further down. That goes as it goes. Now it’s his turn to smile again. Dream, break free. It will close in 2022 with most of its objectives met. A prolific year, the most of his career, considering the titles achieved. His line is ascending. Good game, positive feelings and victories. The best ingredients to place in a good position, in the individual category and also in doubles, to face next year with optimism.
November ends, the season also writes its last chapters, and Bolsova has just experienced “a dream week”. In Madrid, joy on Saturday and also on Sunday. With Rebeka Masarova, champion in the double category. He also took the victory in the individual frame. “It has been a very demanding few days, with a heavy load of matches and I felt tired. But there is always a plan B and, if necessary, a C, to get everything going. With me, the fight is guaranteed. I didn’t expect it at all, that’s for sure.” That’s how he expressed himself on Sunday, right after winning.
The prize is threefold. First, extra dose of morale, self-esteem and confidence. Second, momentum in the classification. She is already number 55 in the doubles ranking, with three more places. The jump in singles is even bigger: he climbs up to position 140 (he gains 53 in one stroke), when a few months ago he was not even in the top 200 in the world. The ceiling, of course, is still a little far because on July 15, 2019, three years ago, it was placed in 88th place. The highest it has recorded so far. And third: good prospects for what is to come from now on and injection of optimism. “What is happening to me helps me finish the year well. It allows me to face 2023 with a different face and good motivation. I’m really looking forward to what’s to come from now on.”
Eight titles, for now
Whatever comes, will come. At the moment, the present and the recent past are a mess. Bolsova has won 24 titles in his career and a third of them (8) he collected this year. There are two in the individual category. A W60 in Serbia, and on Sunday the W80 in Madrid. In doubles, even better. Half a dozen wins in the last few months. Alongside Masarova, with whom she partnered this November in the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup, she won the WTA 125 in Valencia in June, the W100 in Les Franqueses del Vallès and also on Saturday in Madrid. Then, victories also in the W60 of San Sebastián with Katerina Zavatska, the W125 of Budapest with Andrea Gámiz and the W60 of Amstelveen teaming up with Guiomar Maristany.
There are eight titles, but who knows if there will be any more before the end of the year. Unstoppable, Bolsova was at it again yesterday. This time, I’m back to compete in Valencia, in a W80+H. She got off to a good start, winning her doubles match, again partnering Masarova. 3-6, 6-4 and 4-10 to defeat the Slovenian Radisic and the Russian Fomina-Klotz. Today, in the individual draw, she plays against the Italian Rosatello.
