MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

August 1, 2024

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/L. Samsonova

6-2 (ret.)

THE MODERATOR: Paula, can you just walk us through the match today.

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I feel sorry for Liudmila, that she had to retire. I don't like winning matches like this. I hope she recovers because she's a great player. I was expecting a tough match there. Very good hitter, aggressive.

I stayed there and I played good the important points. Yeah, I'm happy that the first set was pretty good.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The conditions, everyone deals with them. From your experience, how do you handle mid afternoon heat and humidity like this?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, they're tough conditions. Honestly, it's very humid, very hot. It is how it is for everyone. I'm preparing myself since the morning, drinking water, trying to stay as cool as possible.

Yeah, but it's for everyone. It's not easy, yeah.

Q. It was only one set, but how do you feel?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, it was one set. Also against her sometimes it's a little bit tricky, especially for my game that I like to play with a lot of rallies, finding my rhythm.

With her, it's complicated because she's a very good hitter. She plays very well the first two, three shots, so you have to be very active since the beginning. She's a great server also.

Yeah, maybe didn't have that much rhythm, the match, but I was expecting that. I think I accepted that moments pretty well.

Q. On the next match against Emma, did you practice together before the tournament?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah.

Q. What do you make of her ball on a hard court? Is it different? Is it unique at all the way that she strikes it?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I mean, I practiced with her a few times. Especially here, I think these conditions, these balls - and she proved it also a few years ago with US Open - it suits her very well. She's a very fast player. She has a very fast eye also. She changes directions really well.

And she's playing great. I mean, since Wimbledon she was showing a very high level. I think mentally she's in a good place also. I'm expecting a tough match there.

I've never faced her. I know it's going to be a challenge, especially on these conditions. I hope it's a fun match. She's a great girl also. I hope it's fun to watch also for the fans. I'll try to bring the best.

Q. You're kind of an ambassador in the locker room in a lot of ways. For her to win a Grand Slam, then splash onto the scene, it can be a little bit tricky being on tour. Do you get to talk to her very much when you practice? What is that vibe and what are those conversations like?

PAULA BADOSA: Look, it sounds that I'm friends with everyone. I'm pretty good with everyone, I'm not going to lie. There's some players that I'm not. I'm going to be honest. But because of them, not me (laughter).

With her, honestly we spoke a lot. We had chats even off court. We went for lunch, for breakfast. We spoke a lot about how tough it is to deal with all these expectations - especially in her case. I had a little bit the same on my career. Especially when you feel that anything you do, it's going to be crazy on social media. In her case it's like that.

I think she's dealing with it pretty well now. She's found a balance. It's never going to be easy in her case because, as I say, anything she does, it's going to get crazy. But it's part of it. I think she has to find the beautiful part of it. That's what I'm trying to find also.

Of course, we talk about it. It's nice that we can share our own experiences. Okay, now it's time for her to lose the next match (smiling). I wish her always the best, yeah.

Q. You said the other night you were following what was happening in Paris. What do you make of the results today? A great result for Carlos, Sara and Cristina.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, it's great that Carlos is in semifinals. The girls also. Hopefully we can get medals there. It's very special.

Today of course I was following and saw the match of Stef. Bad luck, of course. He lost against Novak. It's never easy. Had a lot of chances. Hopefully he does a good U.S. swing.

Also a very amazing result for Zheng, that she won Iga. I wasn't expecting that.

I don't know what happened with the others.

Q. Donna...

PAULA BADOSA: Oh my God, she's on fire after my match. I gave her confidence (laughter).

No, it's been surprising results. But it's fun to watch. Especially women's tennis now, anything can happen. So yeah, happy with that.

Also I'm following the drama that's happening with Iga, Collins, Emma Navarro.

Q. Your thoughts?

PAULA BADOSA: I will not comment (smiling).

There's some that have their own reasons, but I'm not going to say who.