Paula Badosa wasted no time silencing concerns about her fitness. Just three days after retiring from the WTA 125 Iasi final against Mayar Sherif, the Spaniard returned to action at Hamburg on Wednesday with a commanding 6-4, 6-1 victory over third seed Panna Udvardy.
The contrast between performances could not have been starker. On Sunday in Romania, Badosa left the court visibly distressed, unable to continue the final. The concern was understandable: the Spaniard's season has been marked by recurring physical issues since her return to the tour in 2024 following a back injury that nearly ended her career.
But on Wednesday in Hamburg, a different player showed up on the clay. Badosa seized control of the rallies from the opening set, breaking Udvardy at 4-3 before closing it out. The second set was a formality: the Hungarian, despite being the third seed, had no answer to the Spaniard's intensity as Badosa cruised to 6-1.
The win sends Badosa into the Hamburg semi-finals, where she could face a familiar opponent. Mayar Sherif also advanced after defeating Elsa Jacquemot 6-2, 6-3. A rematch of Sunday's Iasi final could materialise as early as Saturday.
In the bottom half, top seed Oliynykova survived a three-set battle against Romero Gormaz 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2, while Ekaterina Avanesyan ousted seventh seed Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
For Badosa, this Hamburg performance sends an encouraging signal one month out from the US Open. After months of inconsistency, the former world number 2 is showing she can still raise her level when confidence returns.
