MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 3, 2021

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/A. Sevastova

6-7, 7-6, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your thoughts on the match?

PAULA BADOSA: It was a really tough match. I think she was playing very, very good. She played an amazing level. Tactically she was playing very good as well. She was making me run a lot.

I'm really happy that I came through, that I fought until the last point, and I could win the match.

Q. How do you feel about playing at home in front of your home crowd? Big motivation for you to play?

PAULA BADOSA: Yes, of course it is. I feel the people. They motivated me until the last point. They helped me to fight until the last point. It's amazing to have my best result for the moment in my career here at home.

Q. What does reaching the quarterfinals as a wild card, as the lone remaining Spanish woman, mean to you?

PAULA BADOSA: It's really special. I was working very hard. I know I was on a high level since Charleston on clay court. I like to play on clay, as I say always. To reach here the quarterfinals at home, it's very special, in front of my family, my friends, my people. It's an amazing feeling.

Q. Do you think being able to feel the love and support of the Spanish fans has made a tremendous difference?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, of course it helped. They pushed me until the last moment. I feel it a lot. The crowd here is amazing. You feel them so close. You feel they're pushing you every moment. Here I feel the love.

Tennis, we miss the fans. Here finally we can have the fans. I'm happy about that.

Q. What do you think has been the key for you to be able to continue this level, whether it was from Lyon into Charleston, now to here? What has been the secret?

PAULA BADOSA: I think mentally I'm working very hard. I think that's a little bit the key to believing on myself, trying to play aggressive in every match no matter what. I think that's a little bit the key.

Now on clay court I'm doing the same. Trying to serve hard, to hit with my forehand. It's a little bit what I'm doing.

Q. Looking ahead to playing Belinda, that win was a really big one in Charleston, kind of paved the way for you, but what do you think you take from that match into this match?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I know it's going to be a tough match. It was a tough match there in Charleston, as well. She's an amazing player. She's been in the quarterfinals a lot of times so she has experience.

She has very good shots. I will have to try to move her, try to play aggressive and to focus on myself, and let's see if I can recover from this match and see how it goes.

Q. Being able to do this on home soil, to be able to show the Spanish fans what Paula Badosa can do, that has to give you such pride. How are you feeling about that aspect of things?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, that's an amazing feeling. I got so emotional after the match because of that, of playing home and showing the people the level and that I can win matches. I'm the last Spanish here, so it makes me a little bit more proud. I know the crowd are pushing me a lot.

It's an emotional week. I was very nervous when I started the week because I wanted to do very well here. I'm quite happy that it's coming true.

Q. The first sets both went to tiebreaks. The third set you bageled Anastasija. Where did you get the drive? How do you explain being able to turn the match around?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, the first two sets were very close. It could go through one side or another one. But then the third set I knew I had to play very aggressive because I was quite tired. I was feeling a little bit with my legs super tight. I was having a little bit of problems with that.

But I was going from, like, less to more in the match. I was feeling I was playing better in the third set. I started to be very, very aggressive, concentrated on the first two, three shots. I think that was a little bit the key of the third set.