THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2023

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/A. Riske

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: How do you feel today? What are your initial thoughts after the match?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I'm pretty happy with the match. As you know, it's my first match after a long time.

Felt pretty good on court. Happy that I didn't feel much pain in my back. Yeah, looking forward for the next one.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Could you just talk about the process of your back injury and what that's been like, the process of getting ready for Wimbledon?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, to be honest, I didn't have much preparation. I started to play tennis one week ago. I was doing recovery. A lot of hours every day to get here, because at the beginning, it was like it seemed almost impossible to play here in Wimbledon.

Yeah, I think I did a pretty good job on the recovery, in the rehab. Yeah, I played, last week was my first hit, and I'm happy that today I felt pretty good.

Q. You obviously missed Australian Open and French Open. How difficult was that? How keen were you to make sure you played this slam, given how well you had been playing?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, that's one of the reasons I worked very hard to play here. I didn't want to lose another slam because it's tough mentally. Of course you want to play all the slams.

So yeah, I'm happy that I made it here.

Q. During the match you have to like still remind yourself to don't force yourself for 100% physically?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, maybe I'm playing a little bit more aggressive, but as well I think this surface, playing on grass, makes me play a little bit more aggressive. Maybe not being 100% as well helps me on that, going more for my shots. Yeah, I'm happy it worked.

Q. I saw one photo few minutes ago you were to the court to notice how the match of Stefanos is going. You were much more nervous than when you ever played?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, it's different kind of nerves. It's watching it from the outside, maybe I get a little bit more nervous because I cannot control it.

But I'm happy that he got the win, and it was a crazy match. Happy that we both got through first round.

Q. I know that you are, let's say, friends with Sabalenka. There was a lot of tension with her, with the political situation. I would like to ask you about her more as a person. Maybe you could show her to us as a person, not with the political influence.

PAULA BADOSA: I mean, Aryna is an amazing person. She's one of my best friends. I think you can all see her when she's on press, she's on court. She has amazing energy, always smiling.

Yeah, I don't know. I love her a lot, so I think the political thing doesn't define her as a person.

Q. Do it have the influence on her, the situation?

PAULA BADOSA: The influence?

Q. It has impact on her?

PAULA BADOSA: Of course it has impact. You saw it in Paris she didn't do press conference. Of course she's having a hard time, and that shouldn't happen. But I'm not gonna comment more about this, because it's not my business.

Q. Stefanos said that journalists should ask how it started with him. Wondering how...

PAULA BADOSA: But he already said it, no?

Q. Yeah, but then he said you have a better...

PAULA BADOSA: He already explained it, all the Rome story. Yeah, I think you mean about that I had a dream about that?

Yeah, well, I was injured in Australia. I watched his match, the final. Of course I had jet lag because I was in Spain. I decided to watch that match.

Surprising, because I never dream about tennis players, but I dreamt about him that night, that we were both winning Australian Open.

Then it was like we were having a very romantic moment, but I'm not going to explain. I'm just going to leave it there. (Laughter.)