MUTUA MADRID OPEN

April 29, 2023

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/C. Gauff

6-3, 6-0

(Press conference conducted in Spanish first.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. A couple of days ago we asked you about the tactic and what it would be against Coco.

PAULA BADOSA: Now you know (smiling).

Q. I think so. I think so. I'm thinking just to give her as many forehands as possible?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. (Laughter.)

Q. I was thinking, as I was watching, it's not really attack the forehand. It's give the forehand, right? Tell us about that.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah. I mean, she's a very good -- she plays amazing when she's defending. She's very fast. She has crazy backhand, very good serve, especially first serves.

I just try to return her every ball to make her play one more. Sometimes when she feels she doesn't have free points on the serve, she starts to serve a little bit worse.

And of course going more to her forehand, most because her backhand is very good, and when you have like the spot there, you just go there, but I just tried to go to her forehand. Yeah, sometimes just give it to her and make her like do more what she can. And, yeah, that's a little bit the tactic that I can say now. I hope she doesn't read it (smiling).

Q. Just in terms of the performance tonight, getting the result there, getting a top-10 win after kind of some tough losses, what is the feeling right now? What do you get out of it?

PAULA BADOSA: I'm proud of myself. I mean, I have been working very hard. It's been tough. I mean, tennis life is very tough. Every week you're losing and you have opportunities and you don't get it. Sometimes you get it. It's a tough career, you know (smiling).

So matches like this, as I said before, and in this court with all the crowd supporting you, it makes me feel like everything, it's worth it. Even though it's like third round, but it's as well special for me.

After a tough year and after how I left here last year, yeah, I'm proud at how I managed everything.

Q. In terms of the memories that you have on that court, both good and bad, do you feel like now, having these two wins under it, maybe banishing the demons of last year, that you can just settle into this tournament as a regular tournament or will this tournament never be a regular tournament regardless of the stage?

PAULA BADOSA: I mean, I would like if it would be a normal tournament. It will never be a normal tournament. I think every year that I will come first round, I will cramp, for sure (smiling). I will be very nervous.

As well as every time I get out on the court I guess goosebumps. It's tough not to get it. You feel like the noise, the people, and it's nice. It's good. It's in a positive way.

But still, it's never going to be like a normal tournament. I mean, it was my first or second WTA in my life when I was 17 years old, so it will always be special. It was my first semifinals of a 1000. This tournament will always be special for me.

Q. Looking ahead, you'll either play Sakkari or Masarova. They play tonight. If you do play Maria, obviously you guys know each other very well in your games, talk about the matchup here on this court and playing her.

PAULA BADOSA: I mean, Maria, she's a very good player, very intense. I really love her. I really love how she competes. You know, I really like players like that that they give all on court, and they go for it no matter what, so I really respect these kind of players.

I think it's going to be a battle between two warriors, two fighters. So, yeah, looking forward to that. Yeah, I hope the home crowd can get me back to that and I can get the win.