Wimbledon Countdown VIII: Badosa

We’re counting down to Wimbledon with previews of the favourites and their chances of taking the 2022 championships. Today it’s Paula Badosa.

Paula Badosa (4)

-Spain 

-24 years old

-World number 3

Intro and last year

Paula Badosa has surged to the high end of the rankings, she’s won a title this year and peaked at world number two. Despite this, she is still relatively inexperienced, first appearing in a slam main draw in 2019, she won her first grand slam match in 2020, and the deepest run she has had was a quarterfinal in the 2021 French Open.

Her Wimbledon appearance could be in doubt, due to an injury in this year’s Roland Garros.

In Wimbledon 2021 Badosa made the fourth round in only her second ever Wimbledon, where she lost to Muchova.

History at the event

In two main draw appearances, she lost in the first round in 2019, and made the fourth in 2021.

Her record at Wimbledon is 3-2, a 60% win rate.

This season

At the start of the year Badosa won a third career title, taking the Sydney Open by beating the world number four Krejcikova in the final. She made a career best fourth round run in the Australian Open.

She failed to defend her Indian Wells title, but made the semifinal. She backed it up with a quarterfinal at the Miami Masters.

Badosa made another semifinal, this time on the clay of Stuttgart, and shortly after hit number two in the world rankings.

The Spaniard sustained a leg muscle injury, forcing her to retire from round three of Roland Garros.

Build up and form

Badosa has spent her time since Roland Garros recovering, and might not make the start.

Positives

Badosa is a rising star, and should be hungry to get a grand slam result more fitting of her ranking. Her aggression and big serving should suit the grass.

Negatives

She is injured, and lacks experience in the second week of grand slams.

Expectations

Badosa should get a good slam result some day, but the injury may leave her lacking top end form, or it could mean she’ll be fresh. Badosa is on a slow trajectory upwards, and can beat anyone in the top ten except Pliskova, a quarterfinal would be a good goal, but it’s hard to see her going beyond a semifinal.

Best expected: SF

Expected: 4th round

Worst expected: 1st round