BNP PARIBAS OPEN

October 12, 2021

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/B. Krejcikova

6-1, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Paula, can you walk us through your match, how you felt your performance was out there.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I think I played a pretty good match today. I knew I had to play on a high level against Barbora. She's an amazing player, very talented. We played before so I knew what I was going to find there on court.

I'm feeling good and I'm very happy that I could play my best today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In preparing to play her, what was your strategy? How happy are you with the execution?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I knew I had to stay very aggressive to try to dominate every point because when she dominates the ball I think she moves the ball and she opens court very well. That was a little bit the key. The serve as well, I knew I had to go for it every time. That's a little bit what I did. It went well.

I know she slices a lot. She goes to the net. I knew it was going to be pretty tactic.

Q. She's also a friend. How do you handle that?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, well, we faced quite normal. Before the match we were talking. We wish each other good luck. Another match. We practice so many times. It's like another day at the office.

I think that we both face it like that. I think that's pretty nice, pretty good. I wish every match was like this really because I think it's good for tennis and for us.

That's it. We face it normally. Then on the court we compete. I like it. She says, C'mon. I say, Vamos. We compete like that. I think that's nice. After the match we're friends again.

I have to be honest, I feel a little bit bad because one of us has to lose. But it's like that. She's having an amazing year, so that's a little bit what keeps me happy (smiling).

Q. Is that a struggle for you?

PAULA BADOSA: Excuse me?

Q. You can buy her dinner then.

PAULA BADOSA: Yes.

Q. You talked on court about how much you love this tournament. How do you feel the conditions and surface suits your game?

PAULA BADOSA: When I was here last time, I played quallies. I knew the conditions could work on the future for me. But I knew I had to work hard. So now that I improved a lot, that I'm another player, I knew that when I was coming here I really wanted to come here to play because I knew the conditions could help me. The ball bounces a lot. I feel a little bit like clay, if I have to do a comparation [sic].

I'm happy that I'm playing well, winning good matches again. That helps me on confidence. Let's see how it goes in the next one.

Q. What does it mean to you to be able to prove that you've been as successful having made the coaching switch?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, it means a lot for me. Maybe it's not the best tournament as a result, or maybe yes. I don't know. I played very good tournaments Madrid, Roland Garros. This is another good one. Cincinnati as well.

I think this is the one that I'm most proud of because of this. Of course, a change, always it's scary. Maybe even though that things are going well, when you change, sometimes you lose a little bit of confidence. Well, after I was struggling with my shoulder this last month, I didn't play so many matches, so it was a little bit tough mentally.

When I was coming here, I remember I was a little bit afraid of what could happen. But, yeah, I'm happy I went through all that. Mentally I'm strong again.

Q. You talked about practicing with Barbora. Do you think that helped you in these two matches, the familiarity of knowing what she likes to do with the ball?

PAULA BADOSA: Of course it always helps when you play with a lot of players. I think it helps for her, as well. We both knew what we going to find on court.

The thing is, when you play matches like this, I think it depends a little bit who has the better day that day or who plays better in the important moments. Sometimes it's one, two, three points what makes the difference.

Today went for me. Another day could go for her. Tennis, it's a little bit like this. At these levels, it changes for one or two points.

Yeah, we both know what we're going to find. It depends on that day who plays better, the conditions, or who feels better that day.

Q. I saw strapping on the shoulder. Are you concerned at all about it? Pain?

PAULA BADOSA: I'm still feeling it. It's been tough these last two months. I don't know why I'm still struggling with the shoulder. With the first match it was okay, now it's going a little bit worse.

But I can play, so for the moment it's not a problem. Still I'm feeling it. When I finish the matches, it's very, very tired and a little bit bad. It won't affect me for the next match.

Q. More of a philosophical question being a Spanish player. You hear the guys talk about (indiscernible). Is that something you work towards?

PAULA BADOSA: I didn't understand. I didn't understand the question.

Q. A lot of male Spanish players talk about suffering on court being one of the things that enables them to play well. Do you look at all in that direction?

PAULA BADOSA: I think we all suffer. When you see the matches, sometimes now I analyze matches from the outside, you see everyone suffering. It's a sport that you always suffer. You play with a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations. You're playing against another opponent at the other side that wants to win you the point. You have to do your things well, but it doesn't depend on you.

It's complicated. Tennis is like that. I think the key is to find that joy in the suffer. The best example on that is Rafa Nadal. He's one of my idols. Well, my idol on the female side was Maria Sharapova. She was a little bit as well the perfect example on that. That's why they're a little bit my idols since I was, like, nine years old.

I really admire people that they suffer a lot but they come through all that tough moments. Mentally they're like insane and very, very strong.

Q. You'll play either Kerber or Tomljanovic. If you get a chance to take on Angie, how do you see that matchup?

PAULA BADOSA: She's a tough one. Here she's playing very tough matches. She's a tough player. You have to play 10 balls if you have to win a point against her. I know it's going to be a very physical match.

Again, she's another champion. It's going to be a pleasure for me to share the court with her, to see her level. I've never played her. Seen her so many times on TV. It's exciting. Everything is coming new. I will try to enjoy that.