Arms in the air and total happiness. Paula Badosa has opened the doors to the round of 16 at Wimbledon after beating the double champion, the Czech Petra Kvitova by 7-5 and 7-6 (4). A last unforced error, the 30th, with a right hand thrown a meter off the court, certified the victory of the Catalan tennis player. Badosa (world number 4) will be among the last 16 finalists of the tournament on Monday and is, together with the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (3), the last ‘top ten’ that remains at stake after the elimination of the Polish Iga Swiatek (1), after 37 consecutive victories. Badosa will now face the Romanian Simona Halepchampion in 2019.
Badosa blasts her way into the fourth round, beating Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6(4)
She faces Simona Halep next…#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/4Gj2CjydA7
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022
It was the first time that Badosa stepped on the center and the nerves of playing on that stage against a double champion of the tournament (2011 and 2014) gripped him from the start. Kvitova started strong breaking the serve Badosa and leading 2-0. The Czech tennis player did not want to give rhythm and she wanted to close the points in a few strokes. Badosa he had the virtue of standing firm to await his opportunity. A Kvitova he burned the ball when it was in play and he only held on thanks to his service.
save the service
Up to seven ‘break points’ saved with his powerful service to maintain the advantage on the scoreboard 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3, but the eighth could no longer save him. Badosa snatched the serve with a return to equalize 5-5 and, later, thrown, strong-minded and solid, as she had been crouching, waiting for her chance, she took advantage of it to make a second break again (double fault of Kvitova) and sign up the first set, to the desperation of the Czech tennis player.
The first step was given. in the second set Badosa has maintained his solidity, mentality and sticking in his shots to keep the pulse with a Kvitova ready to force a third set. This time it was the Catalan tennis player’s turn to save her serve in the third game (5 break points against) and in the seventh (3 more break points) to force a tie break that gave her the final victory after 2 hours and 7 minutes of fighting.
Another Wimbledon champion awaits her in the round of 16. the romanian Simona Halepwinner in 2019, which this Saturday has been imposed on the Polish Magdalena French (92 world) by 6-4 and 6-1.
Swiatek, eliminated
The surprise of the day was given, in any case, by the veteran French tennis player Alize Cornet (37 world), 32 years old, who has eliminated the Polish 6-4 and 6-2 Iga Swiatekworld number 1, who had gone 37 games without losing since last February.
Causing an upset on No.1 Court ? @alizecornet
A moment to cherish for the Frenchwoman ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/bHnVnxIQ80
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022
In other third-round matches the French Harmony Tan (115 world) continues his dream at Wimbledon, after eliminating Serena Williamsand has reached the round of 16, for the first time in a Grand Slam, after beating the British Kristie Boulter (118) for a resounding double 6-1.
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The Australian will also be in the round of 16 Ajla Tomljanovic (44), who has defeated the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, former number 2, by 2-6, 6-4 and 6-3. In the American generational duel, Amanda Anisimova (25) has defeated Cori Gauff (12) and recent finalist at Roland Garros 6-7 (4), 6-2 and 6-1.
the Kazakh Ekaterina Rybakina has been imposed on china qinwen zheng (52) by 7-6 (4) and 7-5 and another veteran, the Croatian Petra Martin (80), has defeated the American Jessica Pegula (9) by 6-2 and 7-6 (5).