MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 1, 2021

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/J. Teichmann

5-7, 6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What does this mean to play in your country's biggest tennis stadium in front of fans?

PAULA BADOSA: It means a lot. I love this tournament. It's my favorite tournament. I love to play on clay. I'm feeling very good since Charleston. I'm having very good feelings on the clay court.

Today I started little bit nervous. She's an amazing player, as well. I knew it was going to be a tough match. But then I found myself. I found my tennis. I started to play very aggressive. It went very well and I'm super happy.

Q. Are you feeling any extra pressure with Garbine withdrawn from the tournament, and Sara losing in the first round yesterday, and you are the only Spanish woman remaining in the draw or do you accept the challenge?

PAULA BADOSA: No, I accept the challenge. I already have pressure for being here. Even if Garbine didn't withdraw or Sara kept winning, I will feel the same pressure. When you're in the court, on center court, with all the people that wants you to win, you feel the pressure a little bit there. It's a little bit tough to control the emotions. But I'm doing it quite well.

Today I started quite nervous. The center court, it's bigger. You have a different feeling, so I had to get used to it. But I'm happy that I'm controlling all the kind of things very good.

Q. Can you share with us how you somewhat turned the match around after the first set?

PAULA BADOSA: I think the key was trying to find myself. At the beginning of the first set, I wasn't feeling myself. I was missing a little bit, quite too much. But then I started to, like, hit very hard, aggressive. I knew in the match the key was to hit hard because she's a player that moves you a lot, very talented, very creative.

I knew I had to hit the first two, three balls very hard. That's what I started to do. I started to find myself. That was the key.