ROME (AP) — Paula Badosa showed signs of her former top-five form during a 6-2, 6-3 victory over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the first round of the Italian Open on Tuesday.
Badosa was ranked as high as No. 2 before she missed the second half of last year due to a back injury that has also slowed her this season. She’s now No. 126.
Badosa jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set before a 45-minute rain delay and then picked up where she left off against the 40th-ranked Andreeva, who was the WTA tour’s newcomer of the year in 2023.
Badosa reached the quarterfinals in Rome last year but that turned out to be her penultimate tournament of the season.
It was Badosa’s first win since beating Simona Halep at the Miami Open last month in Halep’s return from a doping ban. It also ended Badosa’s six-match losing streak against players ranked in the top 40 that had stretched back to Rome last year.
Too much water, and not enough: Brazil's flooded south struggles to find basic goods
Last month was officially the hottest March on RECORD with global temperatures 0.73°C above average
What is Havana syndrome? Symptoms explained after bombshell 60 Minutes episode
Giant screen falls on stage during concert by Hong Kong boy band Mirror, two performers injured
Analysis: Brooks Koepka has a big game. He doesn't need a lot of words
Enjoy last night's solar eclipse? How to tell if it could have PERMANENTLY damaged your eyes
Meet The Richardsons fans fear show will be cancelled after Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont's nine
US service member shot and killed by Florida police identified by the Air Force
Michigan approves 'extremely toxic' copper mine just 100ft from Lake Superior
South Carolina lawmakers rekindle bill limiting how topics like race are taught
Michigan approves 'extremely toxic' copper mine just 100ft from Lake Superior