AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2024

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/P. Badosa

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Paula, obviously a hard-fought battle out there today. What do you think were the keys to the match?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, it was a tough one. I think she played really good tennis. Especially in important moments, she was very aggressive.

I tried my best. I tried until the end. It didn't go my way, but I'm happy of my performance here in Australia.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Just given what you have been through with the back injury, how does this kind of position you for the rest of the year?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I'm pretty happy with my feedback with the injury. I'm feeling pretty well, so that's the most important. Besides today, I think she played really good. Credit to her.

Yeah, I'm happy with my performance here. So, yeah, on to the next one.

Q. She's obviously coming back. She took a mental health break and was away for a while. Just wondering what you make of her just comeback in general, and what is it like to play against her? What's the toughest part of playing her?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I always said because I practice with her, and she's one of these players that's really, really uncomfortable for my style of play. I don't really like this kind of player. She's real aggressive. She doesn't give you a lot of rhythm. She finds the winner very easily. Very flat ball.

I think she's one of the opponents that she will always be tough to beat for me, but she's playing unbelievable. She was going for it. Yeah, congrats to her.

Q. I'm just writing a piece on the depth in the women's draw and the competitiveness. Can you talk a little bit about that, how difficult the early rounds are, meaning how much depth there is in the women's game?

PAULA BADOSA: I think tennis has changed a lot in the past years. Maybe before, the top-10 players, the top-20 players, even talking with them - the older ones in this case - they were telling me that maybe before to get in a slam they were having tough matches in quarter finals or in fourth round. Now you can find that in the first round.

I think tennis has evolved a lot, and the level has increased a lot. Yeah, anyone can beat you right now. Yeah, I think it's nice also because you never know what's going to happen. It makes it more entertaining.

Q. Could you see other players maybe stepping away from the tour if they feel burned out or have mental health problems the way she has and the way other players recently have, like Osaka?

PAULA BADOSA: I think it's something totally normal. As I always say, I respect that a lot. Mental health is the first thing. It's a priority here.

Tennis, it's very tough mentally. It's very stressful. I totally understand it. For sure now she's feeling much better. She had some time off.

Yeah, I don't know the other cases of the other players, but if they feel of stopping, I always support that.