Indian Wells (United States) (AFP)
The Spaniard Paula Badosa, 26th in the world, won the WTA tournament in Indian Wells, in the United States, on Sunday, beating the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-6 ( 7/2).
Badosa, one of the revelations of the year at 23, won the second career title, after the one gleaned in Belgrade earlier in 2021, even if it was thanks to the abandonment of the Croatian Ana Konjuh.
She who started the year at the 70th place in the world will make a leap in the WTA rankings.
Before Sunday's final, the Spaniard had not lost a single set in this tournament played in the Californian desert, for her first participation.
And in that 3:04 am match, she confirmed her mental toughness.
She lost the second set 6-2, and in the next one Azarenka served to win the match at 5-4, but Badosa managed to come back into the game and be very solid in the tie for the second time. break, winning on the first of his four match points.
She then collapsed, face down, before going to wipe her tears in the arms of her trainer.
The Spanish Paula Badosa during her match against the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Indian Wells tournament, October 17, 2021 Frederic J. BROWN AFP
"I was 13, 14, and I saw you playing in Grand Slam, and I told my coach that I wanted to play like Vica one day. Without you and players like you, I wouldn't be here here," he said. said the Spaniard to the Belarusian during her speech after receiving the trophy.
Azarenka on her side failed to become the only player to win this tournament three times (after 2012 and 2016).
The two-time Australian Open champion and 2020 US Open finalist, 32, is still chasing her first tournament win in 2021
© 2021 AFP