China Open 2024: An inspired Paula Badosa enters Beijing semis after defeating Shuai Zhang

She doesn't stop. Paula Badosa is playing in this final stretch of 2024 playing the best tennis of her career and has qualified for the semifinals of the WTA 1000 China Open after taking down the local player Shuai Zhang in 2 sets (6-1/7-6).

Beastly first set of Badosa in which she literally went over the Chinese player, showing very effective with her first serves and very aggressive in the rest, taking advantage of 3 of the 4 break points she had to close the set by 6-1. It seemed that there was only one player on the Diamond Court of the Beijing Tournament, but the tables turned at the beginning of the second set.

Shuai left the nerves behind, began to put some first more (almost did not win points with his second in the first set), broke the Catalan once and had another ball to the rest to get 3-0 up with two breaks in favor. Tremendous tennis as in just a few minutes the dynamics of a match is able to change completely. Of course, Paula reacted, saved her second serve of the set and stayed alive;

Gradually, after the scare at the beginning of the set, the Brooklyn was recovering sensations and got the first opportunity to make the counterbreak and balance the set. The match became more physical and, with some difficulty, Paula could keep her serves and secure the tie break. In the sudden death Paula showed her class and ended up winning to close the match by 6-1/7-6.