Badosa: "Thought I would die" after win
Paula Badosa advanced to the US Open quarterfinals for the first time on Sunday after defeating Wang Yafan and overcoming New York's oppressive humidity, all while celebrating her resilient comeback from an injury that could have ended her career.
The Spanish player seeded 26th won 6-1, 6-2 for her top Grand Slam outcome since contemplating giving up tennis earlier in the year.
In spite of the lopsided outcome, the first two matches on Sunday lasted 17 minutes each as Badosa successfully defended all eight breakpoints against her.
The 26-year-old player, born in New York, feared for his life due to the extreme humidity of 85 percent at noon.
"I was aware that she was strong, but I am even stronger."
Badosa is the initial Spanish woman to reach the quarterfinals following Carla Suarez Navarro in 2018 whereas it has been 28 years since a Spaniard last made it to the semifinals.
"I was feeling pain every day I was waking up. So for me, it didn't make sense. Also tennis doesn't make sense if I'm not on the top," she said.
"I want to play on big stages. I want to play the last rounds of every tournament. I want to be one of the best players in the world.
"Then is when I feel motivated and excited every day. If not, for me being in the ranking I was two months ago, didn't make any sense and I struggle a lot mentally being in that position."
A career-best run to the fourth round at Wimbledon in July reignited the spark before a title triumph on the hard courts of Washington took her back to the top 40.
A semifinal appearance in Cincinnati restored her top 30 status.
"I always had faith in myself, I had this belief that I could come back," she said.
"I knew it was going to be a process that I had to trust, that I had to be patient, but I remember saying to my coach, look, I'm going to give myself this year, and let's see if this can work out.
"Well, it's working, so I cannot complain. I'm happy with that."
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