Australian Open“>Paula Badosa, eighth favorite in the Australian Open women’s singles draw, has qualified this Friday for the round of 16 of the tournament after defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 5-7 and 6-4, after two hours and 19 minutes. The two protagonists ended up fused in a hug in the network after a hard battle under the sun of the capital of Victoria.
It was difficult for the Catalan to close the match. After wasting the first four balls to advance, he made it to the fifth with a backhand from his rival that ended up in the net. Kostyuk hit five more winners (30 to 25), but also had more unforced errors (49 to 42).
There are now eight consecutive victories for Jorge García’s pupil, who came to Melbourne as champion of the WTA 500 from Sydney.
Badosa is already number one in the women’s ‘Armada’ by ranking once Garbie Muguruza was eliminated yesterday at the hands of Alize Cornet and did not defend the round of 16 of the last edition. The Caracas will have to face in February the defense of the Doha final and the Dubai title.
If the tennis player from Begur advances one more round, where she will face Madison Keys, executioner of China’s Wang, she will also beat the injured Karolina Pliskova to enter the world’s top 4.
Defeat of Prinzas
Paula has remained as the only Spanish in contention after the elimination of Nuria Prrizas at the hands of Jessica Pegula 7-6(3) and 6-2.
It should be remembered that Pegula was a quarterfinalist in the last edition of the Australian Open, which is his best result in the ‘Grand Slam’. The American is a millionaire from birth being the daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, and the Buffalo Sabers, ice hockey set. His fortune is estimated at 5 billion dollars.
