Paula Badosa sweeps Gauff in her best match of 2023

The best version of Paula Badosa has arrived in 2023. The Spaniard clearly won the Mutua Madrid Open against Coco Gauff for 6-3 6-0. Badosa swept the world number 6 to reach the round of 16 at home. A totally different meeting from her debut. And it is that Gauff could not do anything before tennis so complete that Paula wasted. A very fresh, dynamic tennis, releasing his forehand like nothing and defending himself masterfully. That left her opponent unable to find her best tennis, getting caught up in one error after another with her forehand and becoming frustrated in the second set. Now, Paula will face off with the winner of the duel between Rebeka Masarova y Maria Sakkari.

The first set began with the first chance for Paula, who broke her rival by taking advantage of the American’s unforced errors. But Gauff responded with the same coin and equalized the score after breaking Paula. The Catalan, very defensive, began by clearing her first doubts and put Coco back on the ropes, but she managed to save the furniture in extremis. The same situation for Paula, who was saved from the break after a tremendous exchange with her rival to make it 2-2.

Too many errors by Gauff against an aggressive Badosa

The Spaniard attacked the rest of Gauff with great intelligence, returning the ball with height to force her opponent’s errors. The American saved a break point but Badosa converted her second break point in a very well-worked manner, defending herself perfectly and causing the error in Gauff’s volley, who gave up his serve after a double fault when feeling pressure from Badosa. Paula squeezing and taking the initiative strengthened the break with great intensity, freely releasing her right hand and feeling like a fish in water on the court. And this caused Coco a few moments of frustration, which resulted in two serving errors but which she was able to correct so as not to finish giving away the set.

And it is that the American had a bad time with the right of the Spanish, with which she punished him over and over again. At this point, Gauff continued without showing the best service from him that he has accustomed us to, in addition to being unable to respond to Badosa’s remains. Thus, with a 0-40, the Catalan completely annulled the forehand of her rival, causing her errors against the net to sign up for the first set.

A very complete Paula frustrates Gauff

Paula started the second set very bold and solid against a Coco who continued with doubts and failing too much with her drive, which made her despair and re-concede her service at the first change. What a show the Spanish gave after a great point between the two, but with a Badosa defending herself perfectly to get her game ahead. And how difficult it was mentally for the American at this point in the game, who for the second time could not keep her serve. The level of the Catalan did not stop rising and so she scored 9 games in a row, without giving Gauff the opportunity to add any game to the scoreboard.

Paula ended the match with a big smile, appearing relaxed and satisfied with her great performance today. Thus, in front of her people and with her best tennis of 2023 to date, the Catalan will seek to continue with those good feelings in the next round.