Shock defeat for Paula Badosa at Australian Open sends her tumbling almost 40 places in rankings
WTAThursday, 22 January 2026 at 02:58
Paula Badosa said goodbye to the Australian Open early, taking a big hit in the rankings after being stunned by Oksana Selekhmeteva, 6-4, 6-4. The 2025 semifinalist failed to defend the points she had to protect and will drop nearly 40 positions in the rankings, sitting at world No. 64 for now.
Badosa has been in a process of physical recovery following months out of competition in 2025. Her return began in Brisbane, and she came into this Aussie swing with a 2-3 record. She debuted with a straight-sets win over Zarina Diyas, showing promising signs of her tennis, though this time she faced a rival who surprised her with a high level of play.
It was only the second main-draw appearance for the 23-year-old Russian at the Australian Open. She had previously won her first Grand Slam main-draw match against Germany’s Ella Seidel in three sets. Against Badosa, Selekhmeteva delivered one of the biggest wins of her career, reaching the third round of a major for the first time and securing her best ranking so far as world No. 74 in the live rankings.
The former world No. 2 Badosa exits the tournament early, and the draw sees another heavy-hitter fall. Badosa will now need to prepare for her upcoming challenges, working to rebuild her ranking from outside the top 60. She is scheduled to play in the Middle East, including the Abu Dhabi Open and Doha, starting in February.
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First Set: Selekhmeteva takes control early
The first set quickly went in favor of Selekhmeteva (No. 101), who dominated the early stages of the match with two consecutive breaks, taking advantage of Badosa’s errors and a poor first-serve percentage — just 47% in the first set, winning 53% of them.
The Russian led 4-0 before Badosa mounted a reaction, showing her usual fighting spirit to recover in the set. She adjusted her serve, improved her effectiveness, and capitalized on opportunities from the return, converting 2 of 5 break chances to level at 4-4 with two consecutive breaks.
However, Badosa’s comeback could not overcome the issues she faced on serve. Selekhmeteva responded with her third break of the match and had the chance to serve for the set. At 5-4, 15-40, she overcame a tense moment and, on her second set point, secured the lead to take the first set 6-4.
Second Set: Selekhmeteva holds on to seal victory
In the second set, things initially looked better for the Spaniard, who held her first service game. But quickly, her rival broke back and regained the lead. Selekhmeteva advanced to 3-1 and then held serve firmly, giving Badosa no opportunities as the Spaniard struggled with errors — finishing the match with a total of 36 unforced errors (17 in the first set and 19 in the second).
The 23-year-old Russian achieved her second break and served at 5-2 to close the match. Badosa fought to recover the break and even saved a match point on her serve, but her efforts were in vain. Selekhmeteva decisively closed out the victory in her final service game, 6-4, 6-4.
Badosa’s next opponent will be American Jessica Pegula, who comes off an impressive win over McCartney Kessler and has conceded just five games in her two matches so far in the tournament.
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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