'I'm seeing that Paula I want to be': Badosa poised to build off summer strides in Asia

BEIJING -- Last year, Paula Badosa entered the China Open off a two-month injury layoff following Wimbledon. 

On the other end of Beijing -- where Badosa retired due to a thigh injury in the second round -- was another multi-month layoff to end to her 2025 season. 

Fast forward a year later, Badosa is finding her best form of her season on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. Since a first-round exit at Wimbledon, where she was ranked No. 141, the Spaniard has now won 16 of her 27 matches this season in the last two and half months.

Propelled by a 125 title in Bastad, Sweden and final, semifinal and quarterfinal finishes in Iasi, Hamburg and Sao Paulo, respectively, Badosa is now through to the second round of Beijing after a gritty 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 win over Daria Kasatkina, who was just two points away from victory. It's Badosa's second win in as many months over Kasatkina after she defeated the Aussie in an split two-day first round match at the US Open, where she needed nine match points to finish.

Badosa knew what was coming her way when she saw Kasatkina in her draw as Badosa's first practice session was with Kasatkina in Beijing. 

"I think it was also very emotional roller-coaster match because we were both wanting it so badly," Badosa said to media. "I know also was going to be very tactical match and physical. I saw at the end, she was struggling a bit, and I thought, this is my moment now. I'm happy that I go through it, especially mentally was a mental battle for me."

In 2025, Badosa entered those Wimbledon and Beijing tournaments ranked No. 9 and No. 18, respectively. With many missed tournaments at the end of last season and unsuccessfully defending semifinal points in Melbourne in January, Badosa's ranking slipped gradually to as low as No. 142 a few months ago. 

However, with her level of play since Bastad, Badosa is starting to see light on the other side.

"It's been a very tough year for me, especially mentally, I couldn't at the beginning feel myself, see myself on court," Badosa said. "Now, I think slowly I'm seeing again that Paula that I want to be. I'm one of the best players in the world."

The immediate goal for Badosa and her team the rest of the season is to play as many matches as possible ahead of a full preseason training camp that wasn't possible with her injuries last year. 

Badosa has nothing to lose in the coming months -- literally. Aside from reaching the third round in Beijing, Badosa did not play any tournaments after and therefore will have opportunities to add ranking points without the added pressure of defending. 

"The situation is much more positive because the good part of not winning a lot of at the beginning, I don't have a lot to defend," Badosa said. "It looks good in a way if I keep winning matches. I'm very proud that I could now in summer play a lot and win. I'm looking forward for the future, and hopefully it's a good one."

Simply, Badosa said she wants her ranking as high as possible. Including Beijing, she's aiming for four to five more tournaments of her 2026 season. Lightheartedly, she joked that she's trying to avoid how US Open unfolded, where she had to play World No. 4 Coco Gauff in the second round because her then No. 87 ranking. 

"Hopefully I can play a lot there because then I will have the preseason to prepare for Australia,so that's a little bit the goal with the team to play as many matches as possible.... and also to not have situations like US Open.

"Even though it was good, it was positive, but I prefer to play Coco in later stages [laughing]."