Paula Badosa had a tough challenge in the first round of the Rome Masters 2024 as she faced the young Russian WTA prodigy Mirra Andreeva. However, the Spaniard managed to get past the 17-year-old player, whom she defeated by a score of 2-6, 3-6.
In the first set, Badosa would start saving two break points that would give her the necessary momentum to dominate Andreeva during the duration of the set. The Spaniard was 0-1, and would get two consecutive breaks to take the lead to 0-4.
Despite her advantage, Badosa was not going to feel very comfortable with her serve, but she was going to counter it by being very aggressive on Andreeva's serve. As a result, neither player was going to win a single game with their serve in the remainder of the set, so that, after several exchanges of breaks, Paula Badosa would have three break points and set with 2-5 in their favor, and sealed the third to take the first set by 2-6.
The first game of the second set, with Badosa serving, was to be one of the longest of the match. Although it was only the first, it was to become the turning point of the match after the Spaniard saved two break points to take a 0-1 lead. Andreeva then lost her serve, and Badosa confirmed the break with a hold and then another break of serve to take a 0-3 lead.
Andreeva had an uphill task. To come back seemed an almost impossible task. Although she got a break back to cut it to 1-3. Albeit the Spaniard won her next two service games, including one to go 2-5 up, and was on track for a victory that she would get by 3-6 to win her first match point.
In the second round, Badosa will face Emma Navarro, who will make her debut at the Rome Masters and is seeded 21st. Albeit perhaps easier than Andreeva given that Navarro has recently been injured in comparison to Andreeva who reached the Quarter-Finals in Madrid.
Badosa d. Mirra Andreeva 6-2 6-3 in Rome What a match from Paula. Can’t imagine how tough it’s been for her to miss so much tennis over the past year. She’s had injury after injury. But you have to admire her strength to keep getting up & trying another time. 🇪🇸❤️🇪🇸
