Paula Badosa stunned in Sao Paulo Open semi-finals as title dreams left in tatters

It is the end of the road for Paula Badosa in Brazil. Her Sao Paulo Open title chances came crashing down in the semi-finals against former French Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska, who is ranked outside of the top 300, and prevented an all-Spanish final showdown.

Badosa was the second seed heading into a depleted Sao Paulo Open draw. She knew that there was a golden opportunity to strike gold, but it would unravel at the end after a 6-3, 6-4 loss.

Wins over Kustina Mikulskyte, Jazmin Ortenzi and Mary Stoiana put her into the last-four as she searched for a second WTA final of 2026, following in the footsteps of the Iasi Open. Already this shows her continuous progression and positive steps back to where she belongs in the WTA pecking order following years or injury ordeals.

A consistent string of tournaments has been put together now with the former World No.2 gradually climbing back up the rankings. When they get updated, she will find herself 56th in the world after gaining 14 places. A few months ago, she was outside of the top 100. While this is a great step forward, she will be disappointed that silverware in South America averted her.

It was not Badosa's finest performance, and she was punished for it. In total, there were 17 double faults in the match, with Podoroska winning just 35% of her second serves. Her first serve percentage at 66% was a lot more commendable and aided her quest to conquer her esteemed opponent.

The Argentine broke from the off and extended her lead to move 4-1 to the good. Badosa got one of the breaks back immediately, but it would not matter. Podoroska sailed into a 0-40 lead at 5-3 and converted a second set point to lead.

She survived two break points in the opening game of the second set before seizing the advantage herself. Badosa struck back twice on the spin as the match remained on serve at 4-4. Podoroska moved one game from winning the match, and the 29-year-old took a first match point against the serve to secure her first ever WTA final in a huge breakthrough.

It prevented an all-Spanish clash to occur on Brazilian soil. The number seven seed, Kaitlin Quevedo, battled past the fourth seed, Anna Blinkova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to also confirm a maiden WTA final participation.

Blinkova, who recently switched allegiance from Russia to France, began the match with a break but would be pegged back immediately. Seven holds later, Quevedo managed to sneak ahead after finally finding some more joy against the serve.

This joy would not last long. Blinkova got back level with a brace of breaks each side of the set amid a number of missed chances by her opponent. It was Quevedo who broke first to lead 4-2 in the third and deciding set, but Blinkova was level two games later. The Frenchwoman missed what would be a crucial break point as Quevedo held her serve. Leading 5-4, she would not make any mistake with the opportunity that lay in front of her, booking her spot in the final of the second edition of the Sao Paulo Open.