Paula Badosa returns to winning ways on clay with semifinal run at WTA 125 Bastad
WTAFriday, 10 July 2026 at 08:30
Away from the spotlight of Wimbledon, Paula Badosa is using the WTA 125 Bastad event as an important step in her attempt to rebuild her season. The former world No. 2 has reached the semi-finals in Sweden after a strong week on clay, collecting confidence and valuable ranking points after another injury setback.
Badosa missed around two months during the clay-court swing because of injury, sitting out both the Rome Open and Roland Garros. She returned at the beginning of the grass season but failed to make a deep run, ending her Wimbledon campaign with a first-round defeat against Emma Navarro in straight sets.
The Spaniard entered Bastad ranked just outside the top 140, a major drop for a player who reached world No. 2 and won the WTA 1000 title in Indian Wells in 2021. Her current ranking situation also puts her participation in upcoming North American hard-court events under pressure, with direct main-draw entry for some tournaments no longer guaranteed.
However, Bastad has provided one of her most positive weeks of the season. Badosa has defeated Marina Bassols Ribera, sixth seed Emiliana Arango and Varvara Lepchenko without dropping a set to reach the last four.
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Badosa finds rhythm on clay after difficult season
Her latest victory came against Lepchenko, winning 7-5, 7-6(3) after two hours and 27 minutes. Badosa controlled the opening set behind a strong service performance, eventually breaking at 6-5 to take the lead.
The second set was much more complicated. After falling behind early, Badosa had to fight back and showed resilience in key moments, saving three break points at 4-4 before eventually closing the match in the tie-break after missing eight match points.
The result guarantees Badosa at least a 16-place improvement in the live rankings, moving her toward world No. 125. Even a title run in Bastad would only take her close to No. 120, meaning she still has work to do before returning to the top 100.
Still, the week represents another positive sign after a difficult period. Earlier in the grass season, Badosa reached the quarter-finals at Queen’s and came close to beating Emma Navarro at Wimbledon, where she even served for the match before falling in straight sets.
A crucial period before the hard-court swing
Badosa’s main challenge remains consistency. The Spaniard has repeatedly shown a top-level game when healthy, but injuries have prevented her from building the momentum needed to return to the upper part of the rankings.
Badosa at Wimbledon 2024. She reached the round of 16 for the third time in her career, but fell to Donna Vekic.
After taking time away before the grass season to recover both physically and mentally, Badosa has now found competitive rhythm again. Her ability to win three matches in Bastad without dropping a set is one of the clearest signs that her level remains intact.
She will now face Yulia Putintseva in the semi-finals, with another opportunity to add ranking points before the North American hard-court swing begins. For a player who was once ranked No. 2 in the world, the WTA 125 stage is not where Badosa expected to be — but it could be the place where her comeback gains momentum.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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