AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2022

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/M. Kostyuk

6-2, 5-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Long match against a friend. Talk us through your thoughts on the match.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, was a very tough one. Was a battle today. I was expecting a tough match against her. I know she likes to play big matches. I knew she was going to give a very high level. I'm really happy that I could get through this match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A tough match. Do you feel like it was an important one as you progress through the tournament?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I was expecting a match like this against Marta. She has a big potential and she goes for it. She has an amazing tennis. I really like how she plays.

So, yeah, it's nice always to have a battle like this and to win it. Yeah, I will have time now to recover and to see how it goes next one.

Q. You said being scheduled on the big courts all the time, that being because of your ranking, what you've achieved. Does it feel different in other ways away from the court? Does it feel different being a top player in the locker room? Do other players look at you differently?

PAULA BADOSA: I don't know because I didn't think about that. Maybe. It's something that you have maybe more respect or something like that. But I didn't even think about it. I will pay more attention now in the locker room.

But for the moment I'm enjoying. I'm playing well. I'm winning matches. I'm playing on big stages that I always wanted to play, on these courts.

The atmosphere was amazing. It was an amazing match. I'm pretty happy about that.

Q. The closing moments of that match, having the match points come and go, the miss on 40-15, how did you rebound?

PAULA BADOSA: On that point I didn't even complain or anything because it was a tricky ball. I know maybe it seemed easy from the outside, but it was a tricky one. Of course, I wanted to put the ball in.

I was quite maybe expecting that I could miss it because it was, like, very tricky with a lot of spin. But still it was a very tough match. She was playing very big. I was expecting that from Marta. She likes to play these matches.

I knew she was looking forward to play against me since the day the draw was out because she told me. I was like, Okay, it's going to be a battle today. So I'm really happy that I went through that.

I think I played very good level in the third set. I knew I had to put the best and to go to the limit against her because she was going for it, she was going on the lines. It was very tough.

Q. You had a nice moment at the net. It's gone viral. Could you share what you said?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, we both admire each other. I really respect her. We know each other since long time. We're very good friends.

Well, she told me that if I keep playing like this, I could do a very good result here. I said she played amazing, that she could play a little bit less today because it was very tough. That's what we were joking.

It's nice to see this kind of relationship after a tough loss for her. It's very nice, her reaction.

Q. What do you feel made the difference towards the end of the second set?

PAULA BADOSA: I think I got nervous in that moment, to be honest. I was not maybe serving that well today. I was not feeling as good as the other days on that. I missed a few balls that maybe I wasn't expecting. I got a little bit nervous.

She started to play very big and going for it. She was putting everything on the lines. She started to play amazing since maybe 4-3, 4-All. Then the match, I know it was going to be a battle, it could go anywhere.

Q. Your thoughts on playing Madison next.

PAULA BADOSA: It's going to be another tough match. I know she serves very big, very good forehand. She goes for it. Typical maybe American. She likes to play big, and she likes to play on big stages as well. She's used to it, as well. She's playing with confidence.

Everything, it's going to be tough. Yeah, another tough match. But you're in the second week, so I'm expecting tough matches now.