Madrid Open LIVE: Simona Halep brought back some of her Madrid magic on Saturday evening, once again advancing to the Mutua Madrid Open Round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over No.2 seed and Spanish hope Paula Badosa. Follow InsideSport.IN for more updates.
Madrid Open LIVE: Simona Halep defeats Paula Badosa to enter third round of Madrid Open
2 – Simona #Halep has won a match on clay courts against the highest ranked player in her career (Paula #Badosa in #Madrid, #2). Striking.#MadridOpen @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/KnBN9RDepi
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) April 30, 2022
Former World No.1 Halep, who won the Madrid title back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 and has reached the final two additional times, emerged victorious in her first meeting with surging Badosa after 1 hour and 16 minutes of play.
Halep saw an early break in the first set slip away, but she grabbed another break point at 3-3 with a brilliant crosscourt forehand, which she converted to regain the lead. Halep broke Badosa again once more to claim the opening set.
Halep will next take on No.14 seed Coco Gauff in the third round, after Gauff outlasted Yulia Putintseva in the nightcap match on Manolo Santana Stadium 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Halep holds a 2-0 win-loss record against Gauff.
Badosa, who had her serving shoulder attended to during a medical time-out at 3-0, boldly saved two match points at 5-0 to avert the bagel. However, Halep gritted through the final game to prevail, saving one last break point in the process.
Madrid Open LIVE: Simona Halep defeats Paula Badosa to enter third round of Madrid Open
