Mubadala DC Open Round-up: Badosa reaches final as Sabalenka stumbles

Paula Badosa (No. 62) and Marie Bouzkova (No. 43) emerged victorious in their matches and will face each other in the final of the Mubadala DC Open. Both players will play their first final of the season.

In the first match of the day, the Spaniard was dominant from the start, securing a straightforward victory over Caroline Dolehide (No. 49). Later, Bouzkova stunned Aryna Sabalenka (No. 3) in a match marked by a rain delay that shifted the momentum in favor of the Czech player.

The former world No. 2 entered the tournament thanks to a wildcard and has not disappointed in what has been her best tournament of the season. Badosa has struggled with injuries and inconsistency over the past year, keeping her away from title contention, but this week she demonstrated that she is ready to return to the spotlight.

In a dominant performance, the Spaniard excelled in the crucial moments of the match, showcasing her prowess against American Caroline Dolehide. In the first set, a single break in the 6th game was enough to secure the set 6-3. With an effective serve, Badosa overcame some break points against her to gain an advantage over her opponent.

In the second set, she was even more solid, conceding just five points on her serve throughout the set. Badosa won 59% of the points in the second set, securing two breaks that led to an important 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Badosa will aim to maintain her perfect 3-0 record in finals, reaching this stage for the first time in 30 months since her title at the Sydney International against Barbora Krejcikova. She has also guaranteed at least a ranking of world No. 44, and with a title win, she could return to the top-40, approaching the seeded positions just weeks before the US Open.

Marie Bouzkova (No. 43) won a hard-fought match against Sabalenka (No. 3) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The Czech player secured her third victory against a top-3 opponent and guaranteed a rise of seven positions to world No. 36. The 26-year-old will play the sixth final of her career, though she has only one professional title so far, from the 2022 Prague Open.

At the start of the match, Sabalenka was inconsistent, committing several unforced errors, while Bouzkova remained steady with her serve. The Czech player secured two consecutive breaks and quickly led 4-0. Sabalenka later saved a set point and seemed to mount a comeback by recovering one of the breaks, but Bouzkova ultimately closed the set with her serve 6-4.

The 2-time Grand Slam champion did not give up, increasing her serve effectiveness in the second set, winning 87% of points on her first serve and 70% on her second. Bouzkova struggled particularly with a 33% effectiveness on her second serve. A single break by Sabalenka in the 4th game was enough to send the match to a third set.

Sabalenka secured a break in the third game and took a 2-1 lead when the match was paused due to rain. The delay disrupted the rhythm of the match, and upon resumption, both players struggled with their serve. However, Sabalenka was more affected, as she was broken three consecutive times, allowing Bouzkova to close the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and secure her place in the tournament final.