PAULA BADOSA CAN'T HOLD BACK TEARS AS SHE CELEBRATES 'SPECIAL' VICTORY MONTHS AFTER FEARING SHE MIGHT NEVER PLAY TENNIS AGAIN - WHILE BOYFRIEND STEFANOS TSITSIPAS IS KNOCKED OUT OF BOTH SINGLES AND DOUBLES

• Spanish former world No 2 has been struggling with injury for nearly two years 
• Doctors previously warned Badosa she might not be able to play tennis again 
• The 26-year-old downed Daria Kasatkina in three sets on Friday afternoon 

Paula Badosa was overcome with emotion as she celebrated her victory in three sets against No 14 seed Daria Kasatkina on Friday afternoon. 

The former world No 2 has fallen out of the top 100 rankings after struggling with persistent injury over the last two years. 

Kasatkina came into the tie on a career-best seven-match winning streak having triumphed on grass at Eastbourne a week earlier, but Badosa was the first to draw blood, taking the first set via tiebreak 7-6 (8-6). 

Held by Kasatkina in the second set 6-4, the player - who is dating fellow professional Stefanos Tsitsipas - pushed on and claimed the decider by the same scoreline, collapsing on her chair with relief after her victory. 

Badosa has waited two years to make it to the fourth round at a Grand Slam, and found it difficult to staunch tears from falling down her face during her on-court interview. 

'Against Dasha (Kasatkina), it’s always a battle, she’s just such a great player,' Badosa said. 

'For me, it’s very special. I’ve been a few times before in second week of a Grand Slam, but I think this is the most special one, because a few months ago, I didn’t know if I could play tennis, so being here today is special.'

Breaking off, Badosa was unable to keep from crying as the crowd cheered her on, before adding: 'I will be so embarrassed of this video after, but it’s OK

'You can see it (that it means a lot) - I think I appreciate being every minute on court.

'One of the reasons why I come back is for you guys. Being on court, and hearing my name - I really feel the love.' 

Unlike her partner Tsitsipas - who was despatched 7-6(6), 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3 by unseeded Finnish player Emil Ruusuvuori - Badosa will now face a wait to see who she is destined to face in her next round. 

Now ranked 371th in the world, Badosa will play either 28th seed Dayana Yastremska or world No 71 Donna Vekic. 

Tsitisipas was similarly downed in the doubles, where he was playing with his brother Petros. 

The duo lost in straight sets to Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni on Friday in an overspill of their first-round tie which started the evening before. 

After the conclusion of his match, Tsitsipas posted a tribute to his girlfriend's success, sharing a video of the pair hugging outside Wimbledon's member's dressing rooms with the caption: 'Proud of you'. 

'Last year here I had to retire,' Badosa said after the match. 'Then it took me ten months. I was on the couch and watching the tournaments from home.

'Also this year, when I started the year, I didn't know what was going to happen. Like, the doctors were telling me I couldn't maybe continue.

'For me, I've always been very tough mentally and a fighter, so I was going to do it anyway. So for me, I'm very proud that I've been through all of this. 

'And now that I'm, again, in the fourth round and playing good level again, because sometimes also when I came back at the beginning of the year and struggling so much, my level wasn't there. I feel myself so far away. Now seeing myself back at it, it means a lot.' 

But while Badosa will have some time off the court to recover ahead of her next round appointment with either Yastremska or Vekic, she is not expecting to use her extra days in the capital exploring London with Tsitsipas. 

'I'm a freak of tennis, so I'm watching all day matches. I love it. I enjoy it,' Badosa laughed. 'Of course, when it's me suffering, I don't like it that much. But when I see it, I like it. 

'So I'm watching tennis. I'm just chilled with my team, my people. I'm at the apartment watching TV shows.

'I don't do much, honestly. I just save the energy for the match.'

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2024-07-05T16:43:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd