Paula Badosa (29. WTA) started successfully US Open and won matches against Viktorija Golubić (73. WTA) and Taylor Townsend (48. WTA) without losing a set. However, in the third round only after a super tie-break eliminated Elena Gabriela Ruse (122nd WTA). In the next phase, her opponent was Yafan Wang (80th WTA), who had previously defeated Victoria Azarenka (20th WTA) and Maria Sakkari (9th WTA).
Paula Badosa is the first US Open quarterfinalist. Yafan Wang defeated
Already in the first game, the Spaniard had huge problems and defended four break points. She did it effectively, and then went on the offensive and won the next four games. She lost the next one to zero, but on her own serve, she used the second set point and won 6:1. She needed 39 minutes to do it.
In the second set, Wang rose to a higher level and did not lose her serve so easily. At least for a while, because in the fifth game she was no longer able to stop Badosa, who gained a break advantage. And she could have lost it in a flash, but she managed to defend the break point.
The 26-year-old followed up and took her opponent's serve again. Thanks to that, she was just one game away from the US Open quarterfinals. She didn't let it slip from her hands and thanks to that, after 83 minutes of play, she could celebrate her advancement. She decided the match in 83 minutes.
US Open fourth round: Paula Badosa – Yafan Wang 6:1, 6:2
It was already known before this match that this was the best start in the New York tournament for the Spaniard's career. However, reaching the quarterfinals means that she equals her greatest achievement in the history of Grand Slam starts – so far she has only been to such a distant stage once, in 2021 at Roland Garros.
Paula Badosa will definitely play an American for the US Open semifinals. It will be either the defending champion Coco Gauff (3rd WTA), or Emma Navarro (13th WTA).