Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa qualified for the Indian Wells semifinals, after defeating German Angelique Kerber, and keeps her dream of being crowned in the Californian desert tournament alive.

Badosa, world number 27, defeated Kerber 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 26 minutes, and will face Tunisian Ons Jabeur on Friday to sneak into the final of the so-called "fifth Grand Slam."

After a sensational 2021 that is ending in great form, Badosa has become the first Spaniard to reach the Indian Wells semifinals since Conchita Martínez in 2003. Kerber was running as a formidable rival for Badosa, who this year was competing for Indian Wells main draw for the first time.

Without previous confrontations between the two,

Kerber

appeared as the tenth seed of the tournament, number 15 in the world, winner of three Grand Slam and former number one in the WTA ranking.

But Badosa played very smart tennis throughout the match, exploited the German's mistakes, and kept a cool head in the thorniest moments of the match.

"I am very excited. It is my second semifinal of a Masters 1000. The first was in

Madrid

(2021), which was a very special place. But here I am winning very good games," Badosa told EFE after the match.

"Madrid could have been, be in quotes, a coincidence, but not now and I am happy to have shown that," she added.

Solid start

Badosa started the game with authority and firmness from the serve to respond to Kerber's right-wing lashes.

The German released her arm without thinking for a moment and that led her to make several mistakes that the Spanish took advantage of to obtain the first "break" (2-0).

Badosa's joy did not last long, since in the next game Kerber broke his serve and, little by little, he found his rhythm on the court.

With the match even (2-2), Badosa, 23, and Kerber, 33, met in a face-to-face meeting to see who of the two could withstand the pressure better and who kept their composure without making mistakes.

Badosa, during his match against Kerber.Mark J. TerrillAP

In that challenge of patience between the rising figure and the established veteran, Badosa prevailed, who saved a delicate situation with 4-4 and a possible break in service for Kerber (he finished it off with a "let's go" that was heard throughout the stadium) , and that with 5-4 already in his favor, he took oil from the mistakes of his rival to score the first set 6-4 with a new "break".

MOMENTS OF DOUBT

Badosa, who had been more confident and focused than her opponent in the decisive moments of the first set, maintained positive momentum in the second.

Without weaknesses in his tennis, without taking a break and with a very effective forehand, Badosa took advantage again and with 5-2 he had two match balls to get his ticket to the semifinals.

But then Kerber woke up.

The German increased the revolutions of her tennis, found the lines and angles that previously eluded her, and pocketed three games in a row to equalize the game 5-5 with the wind in her favor and the stands on her side.

Badosa admitted after the game that at that moment she got "very nervous", but the truth is that she knew how to react with poise and without losing her head.

When it seemed that the second set was going hopelessly to the 'tie break', Badosa, with 6-5 in her favor, got a providential "break" that finally knocked Kerber down and made her one of the four best Indian tennis players. Wells.

The victory over Kerber comes after she clearly surpassed Czech Barbora Krejcikova (6-1, 7-5) in the round of 16, third-seeded Indian Wells and number 5 in the WTA ranking.

Now awaits him in the semifinals

Ons Jabeur

, world number 14 and twelfth favorite of Indian Wells who defeated Estonian Anett Kontaveit (7-5, 6-3) in the quarterfinals.

"I have always said that Ons has an enormous talent. For me, she is one of the most talented on the circuit, not to mention the most talented," said Badosa, who expects "a very tough game" to reach the final and who clarified that his right shoulder problems in the last few days will not be an obstacle in that encounter.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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