French Open: Aryna Sabalenka dispatches close pal Paula Badosa – Times of India

PARIS: Paula Badosa leaned over the net and reached out to hug the Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka after their 77-minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The duo was locked in a long embrace that was all respect and some relief.

On another wet, miserable day at Roland Garros, their friendship sparked a warm glow. The day’s feel good story. The Sabalenka-Badosa French Open third-round clash, billed as the ‘Battle of the Besties’, was a contest on many levels. The clay court championship, wearing the look of an inclement weather report, was a booming affair under the roof at Chatrier between two heavy ball strikers.

A physical and mental test with both players giving it their all. The second seed didn’t shy from asking the tough questions and it was no less than Badosa had come prepared for. Sabalenka, who had won their two previous meetings of the year, threw in audacious dropshots, forcing Badosa to use her wheels. Reach and stretch. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who is slowly finding her range again, tried to keep it together, forcing her opponent to go big. Sabalenka obliged.

Badosa, who was ranked No.2 in the world two summers ago, watched Roland Garros from her couch last year, not knowing when and if she would return to these stages again.

Sabalenka, who has had to deal with some tragic reverses in the last few years, including losing her father to meningitis in 2019, and then her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltov dying by suicide in March, is determined to keep the joy alive.

Badosa led 5-3 in the first set, she pumped her fist and looked at her box. The comeback was looking ripe. Sabalenka, who was trying not to look at the player down the other, trying to treat her as just another opponent, won 10 of the next eleven games to seal a strong 7-5, 6-1 win. Their friendship, which started a few years ago when they played an exhibition event, is the coming together of two, strong, independent women.

“About Aryna, what can I say?” Badosa, ranked 139, asked. “She’s such a natural, honest person. I think tennis needs players like her. She brings an amazing game on court, very intense. Off court, she’s a nice person, very genuine. That’s why we have this amazing relationship, because even if she wins 10 more Slams, she’s going to be the same person.”

Sabalenka was in regular touch with Badosa last year as the Spaniard tried to work her way back. “I know how much she struggled. I was trying to help her as much as I could, talking, sharing my experience because some of her injuries were similar to the ones I had,” Sabalenka explained.

“At the beginning it was tricky because I didn’t want to be the person who’s jumping on her with my advice. I was giving her time. As soon as I realized that she is actually open for whatever, I started sharing my experience with her.”