"Expectations are high but I want to go day by day" - Badosa ahead of Stuttgart opener

Badosa has enjoyed a strong start of the season on hard courts, winning the title in Sydney and making the semifinals at Indian Wells and quarterfinals in Miami and she wants to keep that going on clay.

The Spaniard is very comfortable on clay and had strong showings on the surface before including the French Open and her maiden trophy in Belgrade. She wants to keep her good form from the start of the season going:

"Well, expectations are always high now at the level that I am but I want to be very focused on day by day, enjoying it. It’s going to be very tough. You all know that clay court is my favorite surface, but that also makes it tricky because maybe they think you are even more favorite and now they play better against you."

She already played some clay tennis in Charleston losing to Bencic in the quarterfinals. On that and the shift from green clay to red clay, Badosa said:

"In clay, I have to be honest, I just played one tournament and it surprised me because I saw everyone playing very, very fast. Maybe some years ago, it wasn't like that. So I think tennis is changing. It's always an evolution. And I think it's changing because people are stronger, they're moving better, and they're hitting harder, even bigger and bigger. It's getting very fast. So I'm adapting myself. I'm seeing the players that are adapting as well. They're improving a lot on that. So I will have to improve on serving bigger, returning very fast as well and playing fast like them."