WTA FINALS

November 11, 2021

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/A. Sabalenka

6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Paula, can you walk us through your thoughts on your match tonight.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I think I played pretty good. The conditions are tough here to play, but I think I played an amazing match. She's an amazing player. I knew I had to play like this.

I'm really happy with my match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You mentioned pretournament in practicing that the ball was really flying on the court. What adjustments did you make and how pleased were you you were able to turn things around?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, it's a little bit tricky, the conditions. First when I come here with the altitude, I thought maybe playing with more spin could help. Then I see that sometimes it doesn't help. I try to maybe play more flat and more aggressive. I'm just trying and adjusting all the time.

I think it's very important to stay intense every point, just go for it. I know and I have to accept that I'm going to miss more than normal. Still I think I played a very good match and I'm really happy.

Q. In the last couple of WTA Finals the players to qualify last have actually done the best. What do you make of your momentum coming into this tournament?

PAULA BADOSA: I didn't know that. I hope it stays like that and I can get the semifinals (smiling).

No, but I know every match is very tough. Now I have another tough one. I'm ready for it. I'm enjoying on and off court. As you can see, guys, I'm working really hard. Everything is okay and I'm happy.

Q. After the 4-2 game, getting broken, did you make any adjustments with respect to your return position or how you wanted to approach that game to get the break right back?

PAULA BADOSA: In that moment maybe I was playing a little bit waiting what could happen and didn't want to miss. Sometimes more you doubt in these conditions, more you miss. So in that moment I accept the moment. I wasn't happy with my serve game.

I said to myself, Okay, now you have to be as her level, aggressive, because she was being very aggressive. I wanted to play like against her, let's see how it goes. Even though maybe it could go well, it could go bad. That's what I did. I said, Now you have to change, stop waiting for her miss and go for it. That's what I did.

Q. You're coming into this tournament as a debutante. You played the top seed, the world No. 2, and won 10 consecutive games. How you were able to problem solve? How much confidence does that give you going forward?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, of course winning matches like this gives you confidence.

On these conditions maybe it's a little bit tricky because one day you feel very good, but then the other day you start to lose the feeling of the ball. It's a little bit complicated.

For the moment I'm playing very well. Played very well match. I don't know what's going to come next. Only thing I'm going to say is I'm going to try my best and I'm going to give everything.

Q. Your next match will be against Sakkari. Talk about the challenge of playing her.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I think she played a very good match today. I think the conditions were okay for her, as well. She felt quite good on court. I expect a tough match.

It's a little bit different as today, different match. Going to be maybe more tactic. But it's challenging. I like the challenge. Every match is going to be tough. Every match is going to be a battle. It's the last tournament of the year. I'm ready for it and ready to give everything every match.

Q. Coming off of Indian Wells, do you come out of that final match hungry to do it all over again or completely exhausted? Coming into a new tournament, you start over. Do you feel you're desperate to get to the top again or does it seem like a huge task?

PAULA BADOSA: No, totally the first one. As I said, I'm saying all these days on interviews, I been through a lot. When I was very young I didn't have of course these expectations, but I had a lot. I did it totally wrong. I went the way that wasn't the correct one. After some years I learned a lot.

Now it's totally different because I'm super hungry. Every day I want to improve. I want to stay here. I want to be even better every day. I want to win these matches. I love the feeling and I want it every match.

As you said, it's the first option. I want to be better every day.

Q. A lot of women these last couple years have had a hard time staying. Karolina is the only one at this tournament from two years ago. What do you think it is that can give you a staying power?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, it's complicated because there's a lot of level. A lot of players play well. It's very complicated to stay in the top.

I think you need to have a stability in your life, be happy outside the court. I think on court you have to work very hard every day. Even though now I'm a top-10 player, it's impossible to relax. You're top 10 today but tomorrow you're out of there, you stop working. I have that very clear.

I know what I want, what I don't want in my life. One of the things I really want is to stay here, so I will try all my best. I think one of the keys to stay, it's to improve every day, do different things, every day do a little bit better my forehand, my serve, include some things on my game. It's the only way.